A wearable biomechanical system for medical evaluation of soft tissue disorders

Science Advances 2026 Open access

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Authors: Min-Seung Jo, Hee-Sup Shin, Jin-Tae Kim, Jin‐Tae Kim, Shupeng Li, Sonwoo Jung, Jungyeon Kim, Jungyeon Kim, Tae Wan Park, Jodi L. Johnson, Carrie Richardson, Eseosa Olive Osaghae
+15 more Kyoung-Ho Ha, Hyosik Park, Josif Bozovic, Winnie Sung, Jaewon Lim, Sammer Marzouk, Yujin Choi, Sofia Natasha Guzman, Bridget Christina Groble, Shuai Xu, FM Wigley, Jae-Young Yoo, Yonggang Huang, Ann Marie Flores, John A. Rogers
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aeg2631
Cited by: 1
References: 44

Abstract

Evaluating soft tissue elasticity provides critical biomechanical insights essential for the precise characterization of various physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we present the clinical validation of a wireless, compact wearable system designed for direct, location-specific monitoring of the elastic modulus of the skin and underlying tissues via vibro-rotational biomechanical dynamics. Validated by computational models and experiments, the device uses a tunable skin interface to enable depth-controlled measurements across diverse anatomical sites. Two human subject studies, one involving patients with cancer-related lymphedema and the other involving patients with systemic scleroderma, yield data that correlate with standard clinical metrics. This technology offers the potential for longitudinal assessments in these and other contexts, in both clinical and home settings.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Elasticity and Material Modeling

Publication details

Journal / source
Science Advances
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
12
Issue
29
Pages
eaeg2631–eaeg2631
Publication date
15 July 2026
Language
EN