Bandage\e-tattoo combination

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices and methods for monitoring one or more physiological parameters of a subject. In an embodiment, a wearable device comprises a substrate configured to be attached to a subject's skin. The substrate comprises a middle portion arranged between two end portions. The wearable device also comprises a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor is configured to sense a physiological signal of the subject when the wearable device is attached to the subject's skin. And, the wearable device comprises one or more electrical components arranged on at least one of the end portions, wherein at least one of the one or more electrical components is coupled to the physiological sensor.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wearable device comprising:
 a substrate configured to be attached to a subject's skin, the substrate comprising a middle portion arranged between two end portions along a longitudinal axis of the substrate, wherein the middle portion has a width that is smaller than an overall width of the two end portions, wherein the width and the overall width are measured along a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to sense a physiological signal of the subject when the wearable device is attached to the subject's skin; and   electrical components respectively arranged on the two end portions and coupled to the ECG sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the ECG sensor is arranged on the middle portion. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge portion connecting the end portions. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable device of  claim 4 , wherein the bridge portion is less flexible than the middle portion. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable device of  claim 4 , wherein the bridge portion is thicker than the middle portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable device of  claim 4 , wherein the bridge portion comprises a first material than is different than and more rigid than a second material of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a single, continuous substrate comprising the middle portion and the two end portions. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive disposed on proximal surfaces of the two end portions, the adhesive configured to attach the wearable device to the subject's skin. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable device of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is a silicon-based adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable device of  claim 9 , wherein the middle portion does not include an adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion is more flexible than at least one of the two end portions. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion is more flexible than both of the two end portions. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and a memory communicatively coupled to the ECG sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable device of  claim 14 , further comprising a battery for supplying power to the controller. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable device of  claim 15 , circuitry for communicating wirelessly the sensed physiological signal to another device physically separate from the wearable device. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable device of  claim 16 , wherein the memory is arranged to store the sensed physiological signal. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable device of  claim 17 , further comprising a touch input device to receive an indication from the patient.