Liu Zehan, Wang Xihan, He Yiyang, Hong Weiqiang, Sun Peng, Liu Weitao, Ye Dong, Yang Zhuoqing, Wang Xuewen, Wu Mengxi, Wang Liding, Liu Junshan
State Key Laboratory of High-performance Precision Manufacturing, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Microsyst Nanoeng. 2025 May 13;11(1):84. doi: 10.1038/s41378-025-00912-8.
Thermotherapy is a conventional and effective physiotherapy for arthritis. However, the current thermotherapy devices are often bulky and lack real-time temperature feedback and self-adjustment functions. Here, we developed a multifunctional wearable system for real-time thermotherapy of arthritic joints based on a multilayered flexible electronic device consisting of homomorphic hollow thin-film sensors and heater. The kirigami-serpentine thin-film sensors provide stretchability and rapid response to changes in environmental temperature and humidity, and the homomorphic design offers easy de-coupling of dual-modal sensing signals. Based on a closed-loop control, the thin-film Joule heater exhibits rapid and stable temperature regulation capability, with thermal response time < 1 s and maximum deviation < 0.4 °C at 45 °C. Based on the multifunctional wearable system, we developed a series of user-friendly gears and demonstrated programmable on-demand thermotherapy, real-time personal thermal management, thermal dehumidification, and relief of the pain via increasing blood perfusion. Our innovation offers a promising solution for arthritis management and has the potential to benefit the well-being of thousands of patients.
热疗法是一种治疗关节炎的传统且有效的物理疗法。然而，目前的热疗设备通常体积庞大，缺乏实时温度反馈和自我调节功能。在此，我们基于一种由同态空心薄膜传感器和加热器组成的多层柔性电子设备，开发了一种用于关节炎关节实时热疗的多功能可穿戴系统。折纸蛇形薄膜传感器具有可拉伸性，并能对环境温度和湿度的变化做出快速响应，同态设计便于解耦双模式传感信号。基于闭环控制，薄膜焦耳加热器具有快速且稳定的温度调节能力，在45°C时热响应时间<1秒，最大偏差<0.4°C。基于该多功能可穿戴系统，我们开发了一系列用户友好型装置，并展示了可编程按需热疗、实时个人热管理、热除湿以及通过增加血液灌注缓解疼痛的效果。我们的创新为关节炎管理提供了一个有前景的解决方案，有可能造福成千上万患者的健康。
