Next-generation optical healthcare systems

Figure (left) Image of a device laminated on the skin of the forehead, with an operating μ-ILED, (center) Multiplexed force touch sensor array integrated with the QLED, (right) Integrated system wirelessly powered with RF scavenging.
As one of the efforts for system level devices, we will focus on new opportunities for next-generation optical healthcare systems. Health monitoring devices that mount on the human skin are of great interest in clinical health care, due to their capabilities in noninvasive, physiological diagnostics. Intrinsic optical signals (IOSs) from human body based on diffuse optical tomography provide versatile information, such as brain function, blood oxygen saturation, and cancer detection. However, currently available techniques have some limitations, i.e., large, heavy and uncomfortable tool kits and unstable signals that arise from the unfavorable nature of the skin/device interface. Recently developed skin-like electronics technology that is intimately contacted to skin can be directly applied to this IOS system to solve abovementioned problems, but there are still challenges including development of power delivery systems for stable LED/PD operations and efficiency improvement of ultra-compact, light-weight LEDs/PDs. We will develop optic/electronic/wireless components separately and will conduct systematic studies on stable operations for integrated forms of these components.
Related publications
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