Sensors

By Jamie Oberdick

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A vital tool for healthcare practitioners, electroencephalography (EEG) systems measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp, but getting reliable readings can be surprisingly difficult. Hair interferes with contact between the electrodes and skin, and the gels used to improve those connections often dry out over time, weakening signal quality.

A group of researchers at Penn State recently developed a wearable device capable of accurately tracking chloride ion levels in sweat, which is essential for evaluating hydration status and health conditions like cystic fibrosis and more.

By Sarah Small

By Jamie Oberdick

A new skin-like sensor developed by an international team led by researchers at Penn State could help doctors monitor vital signs more accurately, track healing after surgery and even help patients with bladder control issues. 

The sensor, which can be worn on the skin or implanted inside the body, can measure both physical movement and electrical signals. It is made from soft, stretchable materials that mimic human skin and is designed to work for long periods of time without losing performance. 

By Adrienne Berard

Saying one thing while feeling another is part of being human, but bottling up emotions can have serious psychological consequences like anxiety or panic attacks. To help health care providers tell the difference, a team led by scientists at Penn State has created a stretchable, rechargeable sticker that can detect real emotions — by measuring things like skin temperature and heart rate — even when users put on a brave face.

By Jamie Oberdick

A tiny, soft, flexible robot that can crawl through earthquake rubble to find trapped victims or travel inside the human body to deliver medicine may seem like science fiction, but an international team led by researchers at Penn State are pioneering such adaptable robots by integrating flexible electronics with magnetically controlled motion. 

Laser-made, ultra-thin material enables precise, self-powered tracking of healing wounds

By Jamie Oberdick

By Mariah Lucas

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the COVID-19 pandemic era, at-home, portable tests were crucial for knowing when to wear a mask or isolate at home. Now, Penn State engineering researchers have developed a portable and wireless device to simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and vitamin C, a critical nutrient that helps bolster infection resistance, by integrating commercial transistors with printed laser-induced graphene.  

By Sarah Small

Continuously monitoring a person’s pulse can provide meaningful medical information, such as heart rate and, indirectly, blood pressure. However, pulse waves can vary dramatically from person to person and even within the same person at different times of day and during different activities. These variations make it difficult for current wearable pulse sensors to accurately record useful data, which is especially problematic for those with cardiovascular disease or high-risk factors for those diseases. 

By Jamie Oberdick

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To enhance biosensor development via artificial intelligence (AI) and offer STEM education opportunities to K-12 students from underserved communities, the U.S. National Science Foundation recently awarded researchers at Penn State a three-year, $1.5 million grant.