journal article·2025-12-19Open access

Microneedle-Array-Electrode-Based ECG with PPG Sensor for Cuffless Blood Pressure Estimation

Zeeshan Haider, Daesoo Kim, Soyoung Yang, Sungmin Lee, Hyunmoon Park, Sungbo Cho

Applied Sciences· Volume 16· Issue 1

Abstract

Continuous blood pressure (BP) measurement is essential for real-time hypertension management and the prevention of related complications. To address this need, a cuffless BP estimation technique utilizing biosignals from wearable devices has gained significant attention. This study proposes a feasibility approach that integrates microneedle array electrodes (MNE) for ECG acquisition with photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors for cuffless BP estimation. The algorithm employed is a baseline multivariate regression model using PTT and RR intervals, while the novelty lies in the hardware design aimed at improving signal quality and long-term wearability. The algorithm’s performance was validated using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) database, achieving a mean error range of ±5.28 mmHg for the SBP and ±2.81 mmHg for the DBP. Additionally, the comparison with 253 measurements from three volunteers against an automated sphygmomanometer indicated an accuracy within ±25%. Therefore, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of an MNE-based ECG with PPG for BP integration for cuffless monitoring of SBP and DBP in daily life. The MIMIC-based evaluation was performed to verify the feasibility of the regression model under ideal public-database conditions. The volunteer experiment, performed with the developed MNE-ECG hardware, served as a separate preliminary feasibility test to observe hardware behavior in real-world measurements.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring · Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea

Department of Electronics Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13210, Republic of Korea

Energy Mining, Co., Ltd., Daehak 4-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16226, Republic of Korea

Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea

Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea

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