Shock wave pressure sensors on PEN substrate

A wearable Flexible Blast Monitor to detect, record and display the peak shock experienced by personnel exposed to high energy explosions can help in early detection of possible traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sensors fabricated on flexible substrates allow for the systems to be mounted on non planar surfaces overcoming the limitations of rigid sensors. The design detailed here uses a contact mode measurement where a movable membrane comes in contact with a stationary electrode upon activation by a pressure wave. The resistance change measured across the two electrodes indicating the state of the sensor array is used to drive an electrophoretic display element that is low power and bistable. The passive nature of the sensor design eliminates the need for an attached power supply and offers very long shelf life. The integrated display provides a visual readout of the sensor state when activated by an external power source.