Cuffless wearable sphygmomanometers using dual digital optical frequency combs in chalcogenide chips

Abstract

Sphygmomanometers typically use a rubber cuff around the upper arm to measure blood pressure, but this method can be uncomfortable. Thus, cuffless sphygmomanometers for continuous blood pressure monitoring in emergencies and healthcare are desirable. While electrical and optical blood pressure sensors offer high sensitivity, they often face issues like limited pressure range, temperature drift, slow response, and wearability problems. To tackle these limitations, the study designs a unique cuffless wearable blood pressure sensor (12 mm × 2 mm × 0.5 mm) featuring two original components: a GeSbS/AsS chalcogenide dual-microring chip for high sensitivity, and a dual digital optical frequency comb (DDOFC) system for fast response and cost-effective detection. The sensor is comparable to reported electrical and optical blood pressure sensors in its detection limit (23 Pa) but has a ten-times faster response rate (2 kHz), a 1000-times longer stable operation (>4.3 × 107 cycles), and a well-compensated temperature drift (<0.012 pm/°C) that eliminates the need for temperature control. This innovation shows promise for wearable electronics and mobile healthcare, enabling the capture of critical cardiovascular details for applications like in-surgery monitoring, orthostatic hypotension studies, and early detection of myocardial ischemia and strokes.