Diffractive Optical Dermal Sensor for Noninvasive Arterial Pulse Wave Monitoring

The arterial pulse wave (APW) is a crucial indicator for assessing cardiovascular health. Wearable pulse detection technology has the potential to transform daily healthcare monitoring that helps to identify cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the technology faces challenges due to its limited flexibility, low sensitivity, and the need for cost-effective manufacturing to enable widespread implementation. To address these issues, we introduce an innovative, noninvasive sensor made of a deformable optical grating sensor patch. This sensor allows for real-time acquisition of arterial pulse waveforms at the radial artery site. It operates by detecting strain-induced changes in the diffraction pattern that occur due to fluctuations in blood pressure. When illuminated with light, the optical grating produces a diffraction pattern that shifts in response to pulsatile blood flow. These spectral shifts are then processed and analyzed to measure changes in blood pressure, enabling real-time tracking of dynamic APWs. With its lightweight and flexible design, along with a low-cost manufacturing approach, this sensor has the potential to be used in wearable health monitoring systems.