Skin Interfaces: Flexible MEMS-E-Skin Platforms for Digital Health

Session details:

As healthcare shifts toward continuous, patient-centric models, skin-like sensors offer an unprecedented interface between the body and digital health platforms. This talk highlights how MEMS-based e-skin materials — thin, stretchable, breathable, and biocompatible — are emerging as powerful enablers of clinical-grade wearables.

We will explore fabrication approaches for skin-like substrates, from printed polymer electronics to integrated MEMS arrays, that can measure biochemical, thermal, and mechanical signals directly from the skin surface. Key challenges such as adhesion, skin compatibility, and long-term durability will be addressed, along with strategies for embedding MEMS devices while maintaining comfort.

Healthcare use cases include continuous monitoring of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and respiratory disorders. By integrating MEMS e-skin with wireless IoT networks, clinicians can access real-time health data, while patients benefit from unobtrusive, non-invasive monitoring that fits seamlessly into daily life.

This session will also consider data pathways, from secure transmission to edge filtering, ensuring that sensitive health data is managed responsibly. By merging MEMS technology with skin-like materials, we are moving closer to digital health platforms that provide early intervention, improved outcomes, and scalable care delivery models.