Next-gen ECG patch for smart healthcare mit Platilon®
Three leaders, one goal.
Smart healthcare and digitalization are ongoing market trends and the need for sensors and wearables, e.g. soft-material ECG patches, continues to grow. Current solutions do not master all hurdles when it comes to wearable sensors and patches.
The Specialty Films experts from Covestro teamed up with Really Flex Electronics and Beneware Medical Equipment to forge an innovative leadership in advanced TPU films with good printing properties. The goal: to ensure signal accuracy on soft, biocompatible materials.
Foshan Really Flex Electronics Co., Ltd., is a leading Chinese supplier of flexible/printed electronic materials and solutions. Hangzhou Beneware Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., China, is specialized in the development and production of remote ECG/blood pressure monitoring devices and platforms.
Printed electronics demand rather rigid substrates for precise conductivity and reliable performance, while wearable devices like ECG patches require flexibility and skin-friendly properties for user comfort. Traditional PET films generally provide the required rigidity for the printing process.
However, their rigid, non-breathable nature compromises wearer comfort, yet attempts to use softer substrates result in low-resolution printing of conductive inks, leading to reduced accuracy in vital sign and medical data and in extreme cases, malfunctioning of the medical devices.
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The ECG wearable with printed electronics circuits and sensors provides flexibility and stretchability. -
Precisely printed electronics are vital for data accuracy.
"Thanks to Platilon® TPU film we were able to create this ECG patch with printed electronics. The ECG sensor patches can measure more accurately over a longer wearing time - an innovative solution for the medical devices."
Platilon® TPU Films with polypropylene (PP) carrier technology offer a unique blend of materials and properties for applications in various industries.
The PP carrier technology provides temporary rigidity to TPU films during the printing process, enabling high-quality conductive ink application. Nevertheless, the material of the final ECG patch is durable and stretchable which allows for movement with the wearer without compromising the wearable device accuracy over a long lifespan.
As TPU films are flexible, skin-friendly and breathable, the jointly developed ECG patch and sensors are also comfortable to wear.
In a nutshell: Platilon® TPU Films are a coveted high-quality material for medical wearables and customizable solutions.
“Our partnership with Covestro was key to the global success of Medical Printed Electronics, not only through film solutions but also by expanding business potential to other countries.”
Key benefits
- Biocompatible: Breathable, skin-friendly, comfortable; ideal for skin-contact medical applications
- Printable: Excellent printability in high resolution with conductive inks
- Flexible and stretchable: Ideal for printed circuits and sensors allowing for movement with the wearer
- Durable: Resistant to oils, grease and various chemicals; ensures longer wearing time
- Customization options: Can be tailored to meet specific requirements, e.g. thickness, coatings, etc.
