Stretchable and self-adhesive triboelectric sensor for real-time musculoskeletal monitoring and personalized recovery

TL;DR

This paper presents a flexible, self-adhesive triboelectric sensor made from medical elastic bandages that enables real-time, continuous monitoring of musculoskeletal movements and gait analysis for personalized rehabilitation.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel, self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator using medical bandages with enhanced electrical performance and mechanical stability for wearable health monitoring.

Findings

Achieved peak open-circuit voltage of 122 V and short-circuit current of 25 μA.

Maintained stability over 40,000 mechanical cycles.

Enabled accurate detection of motion states and abnormal gait patterns.

Abstract

Recent advances in medical diagnostics have highlighted the importance of wearable technologies for continuous and real-time physiological monitoring. In this study, we introduce a flexible, self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (MB-TENG) engineered from commercially available medical elastic bandages for biomechanical sensing during rehabilitation and gait analysis. Leveraging the porous and skin-friendly properties of the bandage combined with a PTFE film, the MB-TENG delivers robust electrical performance, achieving a peak open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 122~V, a short-circuit current (ISC) of 25~$\mu$A, and a transferred charge (QSC) of 110~nC, while maintaining long-term stability across 40{,}000 mechanical cycles. Its inherent self-adhesive property allows for multi-layer assembly without extra bonding agents, and mechanical stretching enhances output, enabling dual configurability. A stacked design further improves the power capacity, supporting applications in wearable medical electronics. The MB-TENG device seamlessly conforms to joint surfaces and foot regions, providing accurate detection of motion states and abnormal gait patterns. These features underscore the MB-TENG's potential as a low-cost, scalable platform for personalized rehabilitation, injury monitoring, and early musculoskeletal diagnosis.