Low cost, biocompatible elastic and conformable electronic technologies using MID in stretchable polymer.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Electronic circuits for human implantation or smart clothing require soft, stretchable, and elastic properties for user comfort.
• Existing technologies often lack the necessary flexibility and durability for such demanding applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the feasibility of functional stretchable electronic circuits using Molded Interconnect Device (MID) technology.
• To demonstrate a cost-effective and reliable method for creating stretchable electronics.

Main Methods:

• Interconnecting rigid or flexible standard components using meander-shaped metallic wires.
• Embedding these interconnected components within a stretchable substrate polymer using molding techniques.
• Developing and applying advanced technologies to ensure low cost and high reliability under mechanical strain.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated reliable stretchability of the developed electronic circuits exceeding 100%.
• Achieved enhanced reliability through the incorporation of an additional conductive polymer layer.
• Validated the feasibility of MID technology for producing functional stretchable electronic circuits.

Conclusions:

• Molded Interconnect Device technology offers a viable solution for creating highly stretchable and reliable electronic circuits.
• The developed methods provide a cost-effective approach for stretchable electronics suitable for wearable and implantable devices.
• Further enhancements in reliability can be achieved with conductive polymer integration.