In spite of the technological advancement of the healthcare system, monitoring skin hydration still remains a challenging task. In particular, the state-of-the-art solutions are inadequate to obtain continuous real-time monitoring, especially in a wearable perspective. Starting from these considerations, this paper addresses the implementation of an innovative wearable device that can monitor skin hydration through microwave reflectometry technique. To this purpose, a new flexible wearable sensing element (SE) was designed, manufactured and validated to sense variation of skin hydration of the body, ensuring simultaneously a better wearability and surface adherence to the skin. The system was preliminarily validated through a numerical analysis and then experimental tests were carried out through a low-cost portable Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), which is particularly convenient in view of fully-wearable applications and comparable, from the metrological point of view to more expensive VNAs operating in the frequency range of interest. Results showed that the proposed SE configuration and the low-cost vector network analyzer hold potential for achieving a fully-wearable system for monitoring skin hydration.

Portable Microwave Reflectometry System for Skin Sensing

Cataldo A.;Schiavoni R.;Monti G.;Masciullo A.;Tarricone L.
2022-01-01

Abstract

In spite of the technological advancement of the healthcare system, monitoring skin hydration still remains a challenging task. In particular, the state-of-the-art solutions are inadequate to obtain continuous real-time monitoring, especially in a wearable perspective. Starting from these considerations, this paper addresses the implementation of an innovative wearable device that can monitor skin hydration through microwave reflectometry technique. To this purpose, a new flexible wearable sensing element (SE) was designed, manufactured and validated to sense variation of skin hydration of the body, ensuring simultaneously a better wearability and surface adherence to the skin. The system was preliminarily validated through a numerical analysis and then experimental tests were carried out through a low-cost portable Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), which is particularly convenient in view of fully-wearable applications and comparable, from the metrological point of view to more expensive VNAs operating in the frequency range of interest. Results showed that the proposed SE configuration and the low-cost vector network analyzer hold potential for achieving a fully-wearable system for monitoring skin hydration.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11587/463776
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 22
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact