title: Directly embroidered microtubes for fluid transport in wearable applications.
abstract: We demonstrate, for the first time, a facile and low-cost approach for integrating highly flexible and stretchable microfluidic channels into textile-based substrates. The integration of the microfluidics is accomplished by means of directly embroidering surface-functionalized micro-tubing in a zigzag/meander pattern and subsequently coating it with an elastomer for irreversible bonding. We show the utility of the embroidered micro-tubing by developing robust and stretchable drug-delivery and electronic devices. Controlled drug-delivery platforms with sustained release are achieved through selected laser ablated openings. We further demonstrate a wearable wireless resonant displacement sensor capable of detecting strains ranging from 0 to 60% with an average sensitivity of 45 kHz per % strain by filling the embroidered tubing with a liquid metal alloy, creating stretchable conductive microfluidics with <0.4 Ω resistance variations at their maximum stretchability (100%). The interconnects can withstand 1500 repeated stretch-and-release cycles at 30% strain with a less than 0.1 Ω change in resistance.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. bziaie@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Wuyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziaie
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020724:Elastomers; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D000076251:Wearable Electronic Devices
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers