Advancing wearable technology: integrating textile-based wireless power, sensing, and medical monitoring solutions for smart health

Advancing wearable technology: integrating textile-based wireless power, sensing, and medical monitoring solutions for smart health

Speaker: Dieff Vital, UIC

Abstract: Wearable technology is advancing rapidly at the intersection of wireless power transfer, real-time sensing, and textile-based electronics. This presentation outlines the development of multifunctional wearables designed for health monitoring and next-generation communication networks. Central innovations include textile-integrated antennas capable of resilient wireless power transfer, adaptive antenna arrays for wearable connectivity, and smart bandages that enable continuous wound tracking. These technologies aim to address critical healthcare challenges, such as ensuring uninterrupted operation of medical devices, enabling remote patient monitoring, and reducing physical contact in clinical environments essential for both routine care and the management of infectious diseases.

A key aspect of the work involves embedding antennas and energy-harvesting circuits into fabrics to create scalable, fabric-based electronics that provide continuous, non-invasive monitoring of patients' vital signs. This integration enhances both the effectiveness and accessibility of healthcare services, offering significant benefits to patients with chronic conditions or those in remote areas. Furthermore, these wearable innovations are designed to seamlessly interface with existing wireless communication infrastructure, making them adaptable to evolving 5G and 6G networks.

This work underscores the transformative potential of textile-integrated electronics in shaping the future of medical devices and communication networks. The presentation will emphasize advancements on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), driving breakthroughs in wearable RF systems, microwave-based biosensing, and remote health monitoring. These innovations will pave the way for a more sustainable, efficient, and connected healthcare ecosystem, where technology empowers both patients and healthcare providers to achieve better outcomes with improved resource efficiency.

Speaker bio: Dieff Vital is an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), specializing in textile-based RF systems, wireless power transfer, and smart dressing solutions for electrochemical sensing and monitoring. His innovations include smart bandages for real-time wound tracking and wearables capable of wireless power harvesting to sustain medical sensors and health-monitoring devices. Vital earned his PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Florida International University (FIU) in 2021, where he developed novel RF wearable technologies and secured three patents related to smart charging systems and medical monitoring devices. His contributions earned him a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant (I-Corps) to develop a clothing-integrated wireless charging platform for healthcare applications.

Vital has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the McKnight Dissertation Fellowship, Florida Academy of Sciences Al Hall Memorial Award, and the IEEE URSI-GASS Young Scientist Award. He achieved third place in the IMS2019 Student Design Competition and received multiple honorable mentions in IMS 3MT® Competitions. Vital has published extensively in top IEEE journals and conferences, earning honors such as the IEEE RFID-TA Best Paper Award.

Beyond research, Vital contributes to the professional community through IEEE technical committees, journal reviews, and teaching courses on electromagnetics. He has participated in NSF I-Corps programs, applying his research to practical challenges like wireless charging solutions for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. His ongoing work focuses on advancing wearable technologies for healthcare accessibility and sustainability, emphasizing innovations on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and next-generation wireless networks.