Wearable technology is transforming today’s healthcare options and patient experiences. Some of the more notable benefits include remote and longer-term patient/provider interactions, testing and diagnosis capabilities, and even therapies. The growth potential is exceptional, enabled by smarter solutions that are more comfortable, cost-effective and durable. Diverse applications range from an expanding array of skin-worn medical devices to a variety of smart textiles for wellness monitoring.

Growth of these wearables is being driven by megatrends such as population aging, a higher incidence of chronic diseases, more patient interest in self-management, increased attention to maintaining health and fitness, and efforts to control rapidly increasing healthcare costs and reduce hospital stays.

Several wearable form factors exist. On skin, wearables present significant potential – along with challenges. Next-generation wearables will feel like skin and will reliably record body signals with miniaturized, conformal, flexible sensing technologies and long-lasting, secure, skin-friendly adhesion to various skin profiles to increase patient compliance.

DuPont Smart Wearable medical device toolbox

Including technologies from DuPont™ Liveo™ Healthcare Solutions

Cover film: External protection and support – specifically backing – provided by DuPont™ Liveo™ HCR, LSR, and LCR.

• Base and cover film: Insulating films protect and support stretchability and conformability when integrated into sportswear, smart textiles or medical patches. Using DuPont™ Liveo™ Silicone Elastomer or DuPont™ Liveo™ Silicone Membrane provides a breathable, waterproof, elastic film that offers skinlike flexibility and excellent stress resistance with customized thickness, size and hardness. DuPont™ Intexar™ thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films provide stable wear, stress resistance and washable protection of conductive patterns on smart textiles.

Base film: Stretchable and conformable interface base film by DuPont™ Liveo™.

• Base and cover film: Insulating films protect and support stretchability and conformability when integrated into sportswear, smart textiles or medical patches. Using DuPont™ Liveo™ Silicone Elastomer or DuPont™ Liveo™ Silicone Membrane provides a breathable, waterproof, elastic film that offers skinlike flexibility and excellent stress resistance with customized thickness, size and hardness.

Skin adhesive layer: Long-lasting, skin-friendly wearable device attachment by DuPont™ Liveo™ SSA & PSA.

• Soft skin adhesives and pressure sensitive adhesives help ensure secure, long-lasting, skin-friendly wearable device attachment. Silicone-based DuPont™ Liveo™ Adhesives can enhance patient comfort and safety to help ensure patient compliance with therapy. Soft skin adhesives (SSAs) provide gentle adhesion on sensitive skin and often are used for advanced wound care and scar care. Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) provide more robust adhesion on healthy skin and are used with various wearables and prosthetics.

Electronics module housing and encapsulation: Battery and Bluetooth® connection protected by housing and encapsulation using DuPont™ Liveo™ LSR and LCR.

Spacer pads cushions: Skin contact enhancer with cushion by DuPont™ Liveo™ HCR.

• Silicone elastomer solutions enhance electrical insulation and connection reliability, as well as smart patch comfort. DuPont™ Liveo™ Silicone Elastomers provide good electrical insulation; improved skin contact; and soft, resilient cushioning for comfort. The different spacer pad materials offer a range of performance properties, physical characteristics and process options.

Conductive ECG/EKG sensor: DuPont™ Liveo™ Soft Skin Conductive Tape.

• DuPont™ Liveo™ Soft Skin Conductive Tape is an innovative, hydrogel-free interface material developed to enable long-term biosignal monitoring and design flexibility.