Finnish Researchers Develop Biodegradable ECG Patch

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has created a sustainable electrocardiogram (ECG, also known as EKG) patch made of biomaterials.

The device is modular, so electronic components can be easily removed from the recyclable patch and used again. Printed with carbon conductors and sensing electrodes, the biodegradable patch is made of VTT’s new material—cellulose e-skin, which replaces traditional plastic in wearable skin applications.
 
An ECG is one of the most established and popular ways to monitor heart conditions, as it records the heart’s electrical signal to monitor cardiac health. Currently, ECG patches are composed of electrical components on a substrate made from fossil-based sources.
 
The global need for sustainable ECG patches is projected to grow rapidly in the next few years due to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular disorders as well as the aging world population. Consequently, the global ECG patch and Holter monitor market is expected to expand 20% annually from 2023 to 2030 (it was valued at $1.2 billion last year). 
 
“The healthcare industry has one of the heaviest environmental footprints, and manufacturers are increasingly faced with regulations to make more sustainable products. Bio-based substrates like cellulose e-skin are promising alternatives to fossil-based ones,” VTT Senior Scientist Mohammad H. Behfar said. “The tricky part is the fact that they need to possess certain properties like stretchability, tear-resistance, and moisture sensitivity. We’re proud to say that with cellulose e-skin, we’ve created a new film with huge potential for use in the medical industry.” 
 
Healthcare accounts for 8% of total U.S. emissions and remains one of the largest waste-producing sectors in the world. Plastic is used in medical supplies because it is very inexpensive to source and easy to sterilize; thus, plastics account for 25% of the waste generated by hospitals. Ninety-one percent of plastics are not recycled and end up in landfills or nature.
 
In 2019, 53 million tons of electronic waste was discarded, and this number is expected to surge 38% by 2030. The rising demand for small and wearable electronics is largely responsible for the issue because many small and complex parts make recycling these items increasingly difficult (less than 20% is recycled). 
 
“Ours is the first nanocellulose-based ECG patch with no plastic additives. The wider implications go beyond ECG as cellulose e-skin can be used in a wide array of wearable devices in the future,” VTT Research Scientist Aayush Jaiswal stated. “The film is strong, flexible, transparent, breathable and has good printability. Potential other applications could be, for instance, in printed energy storage and harvesting devices.” 
 
In Europe, a major incentive for creating more sustainable medical products is the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan. It’s one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, which puts increasing pressure on manufacturers in all industries to create more sustainable products in the face of increased environmental taxation.
 
VTT is hoping to team up with partners interested in industrial-scale manufacturing sustainable wearable electronics. 
 
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