A Wireless Smart Adhesive Integrated with a Thin-Film Stretchable Inverted-F Antenna.

Abstract

In recent years, skin-mounted devices have gained prominence in personal wellness and remote patient care. However, the rigid components of many wearables often cause discomfort due to their mechanical mismatch with the skin. To address this, we extend the use of the solderable stretchable sensing system (S4) to develop a wireless skin temperature-sensing smart adhesive. This work introduces two novel types of progress in wearables: the first demonstration of Bluetooth-integration and development of a thin-film-based stretchable inverted-F antenna (SIFA). Characterized through RF simulations, vector network analysis under deformation, and anechoic chamber tests, SIFA demonstrated potential as a low-profile, on-body Bluetooth antenna with a resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz that helps S4 retain its thin overall profile. The final S4 system achieved high correlation (R = 0.95, <i>p</i> < 0.001, mean standard error = 0.04 °C) with commercial sensors during daily activities. These findings suggest that S4-based smart adhesives integrated with SIFAs could offer a promising platform for comfortable, efficient, and functional skin-integrated wearables, supporting a range of health monitoring applications.