Ultrathin, Skin Like Devices for Precise, Continuous Thermal Property Mapping of Human Skin and Soft Tissues
Precision thermal measurements of skin and soft tissue can provide clinically relevant information about cardiovascular health, cognitive state, hydration levels, heterogeneous vasculature changes, and many other important aspects of human physiology. In this chapter we discuss recent advances in ultrathin, compliant skin like sensor/actuator technologies that enable forms of continuous thermal mapping, of temperature as well as transport properties, that are unavailable with other methods. We review the key mechanical and thermal properties that are fundamental to the operation of this class of devices. Further discussion of devices configured for mapping temperature, monitoring local thermal transport and skin hydration, and mapping thermal transport for blood flow analysis provides a few examples of the types of capabilities that are enabled with these technologies.