High-sensitivity single-sided pressure sensor with depth detection

From telemedicine to industrial applications, real-time tactile information

Overview

Social Challenges and Market Background
In telemedicine, the inability to perform palpation limits diagnostic accuracy. Conventional pressure sensors are costly, lack sufficient sensitivity, and cannot measure depth. As populations age and regional disparities in healthcare access grow, remote diagnostic tools with palpation capabilities are in high demand. The global tactile sensor market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 10%.

Technology Overview
This technology features a single-sided wiring structure that achieves high sensitivity while reducing manufacturing costs to approximately one-tenth of conventional designs. It enables real-time measurement of pressure, depth, and viscosity, and its fingertip-mounted form factor allows seamless use in clinical or field settings. Applications extend from medical and healthcare to industrial inspection and product quality control.

Advantages Over Conventional Technology

Pressure measurement

Product Application

・Telemedicine
・Self-care by palpation
・Utilization of content containing tactile information (electronic medical records and education)
・Surface pressure sensor

Related Works

[1] FY 2023 JST New Technology Briefing, Hokkaido University, October 5, 2023
https://shingi.jst.go.jp/list/list_2023/2023_hokudai.html#20231005X- 008
[2] Hokkaido University Press Release, January 10, 2024
https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/news/2024/01/5g.html

IP Data

IP No.　 ： JP2023-146043, PCT/JP2024/031702
Inventor ： IKEBE Masayuki
keyword ： RemotePalpation, HapticDevices, MultimodalSignalProcessing, MedicalTeachingMaterials