NovaCare

New non-invasive wearable devices for cardiac rehabilitation

Project Objective
The NOVACARE project aims to develop a wearable, flexible, disposable, and low-cost diagnostic platform for the continuous and non-invasive monitoring of pediatric patients with chronic heart disease. The solution allows monitoring to be shifted from the hospital to the home, improving quality of life and facilitating the early detection of complications.

Consortium Capabilities
The consortium combines technology companies, research centers, and a leading hospital, covering the entire value chain: from sensors and printed electronics to flexible integrated circuits, signal processing, AI algorithms, and clinical validation. Thinex participates as a key industrial partner in the development and manufacturing of flexible electronic systems using printed electronics and roll-to-roll technologies, contributing scalability and an industrial focus.

Solution to the challenge
NOVACARE addresses the need for more accessible, convenient, and sustainable monitoring systems compared to traditional devices. The solution is based on:

• a multiparameter wearable patch that non-invasively measures vital signs and biomarkers (including lactate),
• the use of printed and flexible electronics to improve comfort, adaptability and cost,
• integration of physical, chemical and biochemical sensors into a single system,
• and connection with digital platforms for remote monitoring and advanced analysis.

This allows for continuous, personalized, and real-time monitoring, which is especially critical in pediatric patients.

Project Scope
The project covers the complete development of the solution:

• design and manufacture of sensors and biosensors on flexible substrates,
• Microfluidic integration for sweat analysis as a biofluid,
• development of flexible integrated circuits (organic ICs) and signal processing,
• implementation of artificial intelligence algorithms for biomarker correlation,
• development of a digital application for visualization and decision-making,
• and validation in the laboratory and clinical setting with pediatric patients.

In addition, sustainability criteria are incorporated through the use of biodegradable materials and manufacturing processes with low environmental impact.

Expected Outcome
The expected results of the project include:

• and consolidation of printed electronics as an enabling technology in healthcare and disposable medical devices.
• un dispositivo wearable médico capaz de monitorizar múltiples parámetros de forma continua y no invasiva,
• improved early detection of cardiac decompensation, reducing hospitalizations,
• generation of high-quality data for personalized medicine,
• development of a new generation of sustainable and low-cost PoC devices,