Advancements in Flexible Sensors for Monitoring Body Movements during Sleep: A Review

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 24; no. 16; p. 5091
• Main Authors: Jiang, Zongyi, Lee, Yee Sum, Wang, Yunzhong, John, Honey, Fang, Liming, Tang, Youhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06-08-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aluminum; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; body movements; Electrodes; Eye movements; flexible sensors; Humans; Monitoring, Physiologic - instrumentation; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; Movement - physiology; piezoelectric nanogenerator; Polysomnography - instrumentation; Polysomnography - methods; Pressure distribution; R&D; Research & development; Review; Sensors; Sleep - physiology; Sleep apnea; Sleep disorders; sleep monitoring; Textiles; triboelectric nanogenerator; wearable devices; Wearable Electronic Devices; wearable devices; triboelectric nanogenerator; flexible sensors; sleep monitoring; body movements; piezoelectric nanogenerator
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s24165091

Sleep plays a role in maintaining our physical well-being. However, sleep-related issues impact millions of people globally. Accurate monitoring of sleep is vital for identifying and addressing these problems. While traditional methods like polysomnography (PSG) are commonly used in settings, they may not fully capture natural sleep patterns at home. Moreover, PSG equipment can disrupt sleep quality. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of sensors for sleep monitoring. These lightweight sensors can be easily integrated into textiles or wearable devices using technology. The flexible sensors can be designed for skin contact to offer continuous monitoring without being obtrusive in a home environment. This review presents an overview of the advancements made in flexible sensors for tracking body movements during sleep, which focus on their principles, mechanisms, and strategies for improved flexibility, practical applications, and future trends.