Open AccessThermoelectric Generators: Alternative Power Supply for Wearable Electrocardiographic Systems
Author(s) -
Dargusch Matthew,
Liu WeiDi,
Chen ZhiGang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202001362
Subject(s) - wearable computer , thermoelectric generator , thermoelectric effect , heat sink , wearable technology , computer science , thermoelectric materials , thermoelectric cooling , electrical engineering , embedded system , engineering , physics , electrical resistivity and conductivity , thermodynamics
Research interest in the development of real‐time monitoring of personal health indicators using wearable electrocardiographic systems has intensified in recent years. New advanced thermoelectrics are potentially a key enabling technology that can be used to transform human body heat into power for use in wearable electrographic monitoring devices. This work provides a systematic review of the potential application of thermoelectric generators for use as power sources in wearable electrocardiographic monitoring systems. New strategies on miniaturized rigid thermoelectric modules combined with batteries or supercapacitors can provide adequate power supply for wearable electrocardiographic systems. Flexible thermoelectric generators can also support wearable electrocardiographic systems directly when a heat sink is incorporated into the design in order to enlarge and stabilize the temperature gradient. Recent advances in enhancing the performance of novel fiber/fabric based flexible thermoelectrics has opened up an exciting direction for the development of wearable electrocardiographic systems.