Hand- and Finger-Worn Wearable Sensors: Applications and Considerations

Let’s break down your questions regarding wearable sensors for the palm and fingers, and address each aspect in detail.

Are wearable sensors on the palm or fingers used for skin conductance, micro-vibrations, and SpO2 monitoring?

Yes, this is accurate! The palm and fingers are ideal locations for measuring certain physiological and mechanical signals due to their unique properties:

A. Skin Conductance (Electrodermal Activity, EDA)

• The sweat glands in the palms and fingers are densely packed, making these areas highly responsive to changes in emotional or physiological states.
• Applications:

        – Stress detection: Measuring changes in sweat gland activity to assess emotional arousal.
        – Mental health: Monitoring relaxation or anxiety levels during therapeutic interventions.

B. Micro-Vibrations (Tremors)

• Sensors on the fingers can capture subtle hand or finger movements, including micro-vibrations caused by:

        – Neurological disorders: Detecting tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor.
        – Fatigue analysis: Monitoring small hand tremors during prolonged activities like surgery or typing.

C. Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)

• Pulse oximeters measure SpO2 by shining light through the skin and detecting changes in light absorption due to oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
• Why fingers?

       – Fingers have capillary-rich tissue, providing reliable readings of blood oxygen levels.
       – This is the same principle used in medical pulse oximeters clipped to the fingertip.