Materials, structure design, performances of multifunctional flexible devices for healthcare

Multifunctional flexible devices, with their remarkable skin conformability, biocompatibility, and adhesion, have extensive applications in healthcare. They hold significant promise in reshaping the traditional hospital-centric healthcare system by enabling enhanced physiological signal monitoring and biological diagnostics. This review provides an up-to-date overview of these devices, focusing on classifications, performances, and applications while also addressing existing challenges and future directions. The classification system is detailed based on conductive materials and structural designs. Performance analysis involves evaluating optimal device functionalities, emphasizing mechanisms and typical examples. The diverse applications of these devices in healthcare span the acquisition, analysis, and comprehensive monitoring of electrophysiological, biophysical, and biochemical signals. These signals also play a crucial role in clinical therapy through integrated diagnosis and treatment devices. The review concludes by outlining primary challenges and future development pathways, highlighting the need for continued research and innovation in this burgeoning field.