Deployable Compression Generating and Sensing for Wearable Compression-Aware Force Rendering

Here, we report a novel origami-structured wrist band to enhance such skin mechanical modulations with active pressure generating and monitoring capability, namely Compression-aware Force Rendering (CAFR). Two different kinds of origami structures, actuated with positive and negative pressure, respectively, are designed to apply vertical and radial pressure on the wrist evenly. The ultra-flexible microfiber sensor is seamlessly integrated into the simple origami actuator with direct skin contact to measure the applied pressure in real-time accurately. Several mechanical measurements are performed to evaluate further the stability performance and pressure range for our design. We demonstrate the potential with a customizable pressure range and duration applied on the skin for future personalized force rendering and haptic use. For instance, Transdermal drug delivery with physical skin force rendering improves drug penetration efficiency. Recently, it has been proven that a minute-long pressure treatment can allow drugs with different physicochemical properties to penetrate the skin. Nevertheless, the available systems can hardly generate adjustable pressure without sensing feedback and will increase the risks of skin irritation and damage. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.