Biosensing signal-receptive media components are hydrogel-free for medical diagnostics, therapeutic wearable devices

Spencer, MA-based FLEXcon Company, Inc., an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, has commercialized its FLEXcon® OMNI-WAVE™ Signal Receptive Media Components, new biosensing technology that eliminates the need for hydrogel in medical-diagnostic and therapeutic wearable devices. 

OMNI-WAVE technology uses a skin-friendly, medical-grade, conductive adhesive that requires no hydrogel or Ag/AgCl to get a signal. OMNI-WAVE is suitable for diagnostic applications such as EKG and sEMG and can distinguish between sympathetic and parasympathetic responses for EDA applications. It is also appropriate for  therapeutic applications such as TENS and NMES if a secondary, repositionable adhesive is used as a part of the electrode design.  

Awarded multiple patents, this non-hydrogel “dry” technology combines capacitive with conductive biomedical signal sensing to eliminate crosstalk. Independent clinical studies have shown that the performance of OMNI-WAVE components is equivalent to hydrogel-based diagnostic and therapeutic devices. Furthermore, performance is not affected by humidity, allowing patients to shower, bathe, and exercise normally. OMNI-WAVE technology passes ISO 10993-10 for sensitization and irritation and is AAMI compliant. It is an approved component in customer 510(k) and CE-marked, finished good medical devices. 

No hydrogel means a reduced chance of skin irritation for patients who are sensitive to hydrogel. In addition, OMNI-WAVE requires no expensive barrier packaging and affords longer out-of-pack life, providing a cost savings to both manufacturers and end-users. 

“This is a  disruptive technology that will enable medical-device manufacturers to  differentiate their product offering without sacrificing performance while providing an improved experience for patients with hydrogel allergies,” says Kelly Johnson, product mgr.-Healthcare, FLEXcon. “Elimination of expensive barrier packaging as well as  three to six times longer out-of-pack life are added bonuses.”