Evaluation of Expandable Microsphere Pressure Sensor for Arterial Pulse Wave Measurements

This study presents an evaluation of an expandable microsphere pressure sensor for pulse wave measurements. The sensor is designed for non-invasive and long-term monitoring, with a pressure-sensitive layer fabricated of compressible microspheres and elastic polydimethylsiloxane. The performance of the sensor is compared against a reference sensor, and the measured signals are analyzed visually and numerically to gain a better understanding of the sensor's applicability for quantitative arterial assessment. The characteristic features of the pulse wave are visually observable in the measured signals. The analysis results indicate that the microsphere pressure sensor presents the potential to evaluate physiological parameters such as heart rate or arterial stiffness.