Conductive hydrogel-based wearable health monitors
Inventors
Vitale, Flavia • Yang, Shu • MOJTABAVI, Mehrnaz • Murphy, Brendan • Chen, Mingtao • Chen, Baohong • Gao, Yuchong
Assignees
University of Pennsylvania • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
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Publication Number
US-12653434-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A health monitor, comprising: an electrode that includes a hydrogel composition comprising a first network that comprises at least two hydroxyl-bearing chains of a first polymer, the at least two hydroxyl-bearing polymer chains being crosslinked by crosslinks that comprise one or more boronic ester bonds; and at least one conductive additive dispersed within the composition, the electrode being configured for patient contact. Also provided are related methods.
Core Innovation
A health monitor includes an electrode configured for patient contact and including a hydrogel composition. The hydrogel composition has a first network comprising at least two hydroxyl-bearing chains of a first polymer, and the hydroxyl-bearing polymer chains are crosslinked by crosslinks comprising one or more boronic ester bonds.
The electrode further includes at least one conductive additive dispersed within the hydrogel composition to form a conductive hydrogel composition. The conductive additives include carbon nanotube (CNT), MXene, PEDOT:PSS, graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), or any combination thereof.
In embodiments and aspects, the boronic ester crosslinks are described as being based on boric acid or boronic acid interacting with hydroxyl-bearing polymer chains. The resulting conductive hydrogel composition is configured to be conductive and to provide skin-contact performance, including impedance measurements at 10 Hz under abraded versus untreated human skin.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim directed to a patient-contact health monitor electrode using a conductive hydrogel. The independent claim recites two core inventive features: a boronic-ester crosslinked hydroxyl-bearing polymer network and at least one conductive additive dispersed in the hydrogel composition.
Boronic ester crosslinked hydroxyl-bearing polymer network for patient contact
An electrode configured for patient contact, where the electrode includes a hydrogel composition with a first network that comprises at least two hydroxyl-bearing chains of a first polymer, and the at least two hydroxyl-bearing polymer chains are crosslinked by crosslinks comprising one or more boronic ester bonds.
Dispersed conductive additive to form a conductive hydrogel composition
The electrode includes at least one conductive additive dispersed within the hydrogel composition to form a conductive hydrogel composition, in addition to the boronic ester crosslinked polymer network.
Overall, the independent claim coverage centers on combining a first polymer network having hydroxyl-bearing chains crosslinked by boronic ester bonds with a conductive additive dispersed in the hydrogel to form a conductive hydrogel electrode configured for patient contact.
Stated Advantages
Improved skin impedance performance versus clinical 3M 2360 ECG electrodes, including impedance values at 10 Hz below about 500 kΩ·cm².
Simplified fabrication by mixing to form the conductive hydrogel composition and electrode.
Tunable conductivity based on the filler type and loading level.
Improved performance even without abrasion, with results compared for abraded versus untreated human skin conditions.
Documented Applications
Wearable health monitor electrode use in skin-contact monitoring, including ECG and EMG contexts as described in the partial content.
Skin-impedance evaluation of the conductive hydrogel composition, including comparisons under abraded human skin and untreated human skin.
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