Scientists have developed a novel wearable device featuring starfish-inspired fivefold symmetry that increases cardiac monitoring accuracy while detecting physiological signals more precisely. The accuracy of traditional wearable monitors decreases when their performance is affected by body movements. A bioelectronic system with its pentaradial design avoids mechanical interference, allowing for precise readings of electrocardiogram (ECG) and seismocardiogram (SCG) signals and gyrocardiogram (GCG) signals.
Biomimetic engineering allowed researchers to develop a device that inspired by starfish with multiple flexible arms that achieve mechanical decoupling of signal acquisition to minimize motion artifacts. The Bluetooth transmission of medical data from the device enables smartphone-based real-time processing by machine learning algorithms that deliver precise evaluations of heart health. Testing on patients demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy rate of 91% above current cardiac monitor metrics.
The wireless device weighs 1.7 grams is optimized for continuous cardiac monitoring while offering both waterproof functionality and representing significant progress in the field of telemedicine. The real-time functionality of the device helps people with cardiac risks track their health data efficiently because it works without requiring traditional monitors.
The device incorporates flexible printed circuit boards (fPCBs) for durability while reaching an ultra-thin 105μm profile. The fPCB features a polyimide (PI) substrate combined with copper conductive traces and epoxy resin layers that enhances environmental resistance. The device retains high reliability for long-term usage because of the Gold-plated ECG electrodes, which provide superior conductivity and improved stability.
The wearable system incorporates biogel as an essential component to enable effective adhesion and conductivity performance. The biogel production combines three substances including ε-polylysine, gelatin, and sodium sulfate while the conductive version works by adding silver nanowires for improved electrical signal transmission. The antibacterial properties of the biogel enhance its suitability for medical uses.
By using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), researchers conducted simulations to determine the optimal device design by evaluating four-arm, five-arm, and six-arm options. The simulated models helped scientists find the optimal structure, which reduced mechanical problems while improving wireless signal quality.
The wearable device utilizes machine learning models based on 57,600 seconds of activity data, which is trained through motion records gathered from individuals transitioning from sitting to jogging and running. The transformer network models provided the most accurate motion recognition performance, which protected the ECG, SCG, and GCG measurements from motion artifact damage.
The system received training to identify various cardiac issues from among atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), myocardial infarction (MI) along with heart failure (HF). A total of 18 patients donated their cardiac signals which were logged during more than 20 hours of observation. The system used transformer-based neural networks to reach heart disease identification accuracy greater than 91% thus surpassing traditional monitoring methods.
The research obtained Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals from the University of Missouri-Columbia USA and First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, China. All participants granted written consent to participate in the study using protocols that upheld ethical guidelines for the entire research process.
Its starfish shape structure provides continuous non-invasive medical health monitoring in addition to high accuracy measurements for next-generation biomimetic medical technology. The wireless connectivity together with its waterproof structure and signal processing based on ML creates a new standard for remote healthcare delivery through telemedicine.
Future advancements in bioelectronics research will bring sophisticated wearable diagnostic equipment that will enhance patient care through active monitoring of cardiovascular health. Mass production of this device will make it a standard health monitoring system that will push precision medicine into wider mainstream uses.
References: Chen S, Ouyang Q, Meng X, et al. Starfish-inspired wearable bioelectronic systems for physiological signal monitoring during motion and real-time heart disease diagnosis. Sci Adv. 2025;11(14):eadv2406. doi:10.1126/sciadv.adv2406
