Soft, wireless periocular wearable electronics for real-time detection of eye vergence in a virtual reality toward mobile eye therapies

Sci Adv. 2020 Mar 13;6(11):eaay1729. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay1729. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Recent advancements in electronic packaging and image processing techniques have opened the possibility for optics-based portable eye tracking approaches, but technical and safety hurdles limit safe implementation toward wearable applications. Here, we introduce a fully wearable, wireless soft electronic system that offers a portable, highly sensitive tracking of eye movements (vergence) via the combination of skin-conformal sensors and a virtual reality system. Advancement of material processing and printing technologies based on aerosol jet printing enables reliable manufacturing of skin-like sensors, while the flexible hybrid circuit based on elastomer and chip integration allows comfortable integration with a user's head. Analytical and computational study of a data classification algorithm provides a highly accurate tool for real-time detection and classification of ocular motions. In vivo demonstration with 14 human subjects captures the potential of the wearable electronics as a portable therapy system, whose minimized form factor facilitates seamless interplay with traditional wearable hardware.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Convergence, Ocular*
  • Humans
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
  • Optics and Photonics / methods*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Telemedicine / instrumentation*
  • Telemedicine / methods*
  • Virtual Reality*
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*
  • Wireless Technology*