ES2935558B2 - Respiration monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Respiration monitoring device

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a breathing monitoring device, configured to be incorporated into a mask or attached to a mask, where the device is configured to monitor the breathing of a user wearing said mask. The device is equipped with sensors that allow the user's respiratory rate to be captured, and is capable of sending, through a radio connection with a device connected to the Internet, a user's respiratory rate to a telemedicine platform.

By means of the breathing monitoring device of the invention, the respiratory rate of a user wearing a mask that incorporates the device of the invention can be monitored from a health center or a remote telemedicine unit located in a hospital, being able to send alerts to a mobile device if any anomaly is detected in the user's respiratory rate.

The respiration monitoring device of the invention allows, optionally, to monitor other types of variables related to the health status and/or respiratory capacity of the user using additional sensors.

The breathing monitoring device, object of the present invention, is of particular application in the field of telemedicine devices and remote monitoring of a user's health status.

Background of the invention and technical problem to be solved

The pandemic caused by Sars Cov 2 (Covid 19) has made it necessary to use masks in many situations.

Masks frequently cause difficulty in breathing and, in certain situations of physical exercise or nervous or anxiety states of the user wearing the mask, they can be a significant impediment to breathing.

It is common that, in hospitals or nursing homes, there are people who remain wearing the mask for a long time. These people, due to their age or their particularly vulnerable situation, must be constantly supervised to check their health and ensure that they are breathing correctly.

In the state of the art, some masks are known that allow remote monitoring of some variables related to the health and/or breathing of the user wearing the mask.

Thus, in the document “Towards data-driven pre-operative evaluation of lung cancer patients: the case of smart mask B. Myers, JA Nahal, C. Yang, L. Brown, S. Ghiasi, A. Knoesen, in: Proceedings of the 2016 IEEE Wireless Health (WH), 2016, pp. 1-6, a portable mask designed to measure breathing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, as well as the patient's vital activity levels, is described. Oxygen, carbon dioxide and activity data can be measured continuously over a long period of time in the environment of the patient's choice. The mask is capable of wireless data transfer to basic smartphones. This mask requires a battery or external power source and does not allow the user's breathing rate to be monitored. Additionally, the mask described in this document must be quite robust (much more rigid than, for example, a surgical or FFP2 mask) since it must house said sensors.

On the other hand, in the document " Lab-on-Mask for Remote Respiratory Monitoring" [Pan, L., Wang, C., Jin, H., Li, J., Yang, L., Zheng, Y., Wen , Y., Tan, BH, Loh, XJ, & Chen, integrated into a PCB that allows different physical parameters associated with pneumonia to be monitored in the cloud, such as heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation. Again, this mask must be robust, it is quite heavy due to the components integrated into a PCB that is part of the mask structure and does not monitor breathing.

Description of the invention

In order to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention relates to a respiration monitoring device.

The respiration monitoring device, object of the present invention, comprises a deformation sensor element configured to be incorporated into a mask and to produce an electrical signal in response to the deformations produced in the fabric (or textile material) of the mask by breathing. of a user wearing the mask.

The respiration monitoring device is configured to transmit said electrical signal to a remote monitoring center.

By means of the breathing monitoring device described above, it is possible, by means of a deformation sensing element, to monitor the breathing of the user of a mask (thanks to the measurement of deformations in the deformation sensing element, deformations that in turn reflect the deformations in the mask material produced by the user's inhalations and exhalations).

Preferably, the deformation sensing element comprises at least one sheet configured to be inserted into the layers that make up the mask material, or to be adhered to a face or exterior surface of the mask.

This allows us to monitor the user's breathing, without excessively increasing the weight and consistency of the mask.

According to a first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the deformation sensing element is formed by a first material consisting of flexible poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether epoxy resin reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hardened with 4,4 -diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) (GNP/PEGDGE).

Also according to the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the strain sensing element can be connected by wired connection to a first emitter.

According to a second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the strain sensing element is formed by a second material consisting of a triboelectric material configured to act as a triboelectric energy nanogenerator (TENG).

This second material can be fireproof and/or moisture resistant.

According to a first variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the strain sensing element is connected wirelessly, by means of an antenna, to a first transmitter, through a first receiver configured to receive signals from the deformation sensing element through the antenna, where the first receiver is connected to said first emitter.

According to a second variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the strain sensing element is connected by wired connection to a first emitter.

The first transmitter may be configured to transmit a signal with data related to the user's breathing to the remote monitoring center, through wireless communication with a reception module, where the reception module comprises an internet connection for the transmission of the data relating to the user's breathing to an internet platform (telemedicine platform), accessible from monitoring equipment (electronic device with internet connection) located in the remote monitoring center.

The wireless communication between the first transmitter and the reception module may be configured in a first short-range stage and a second long-range stage, where in the first short-range stage the first transmitter is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal of short range carrying the data relating to the user's breathing to a communications module, and where in the second long range stage the communications module is configured to transmit a long range radio frequency signal carrying the data relating to the breathing from the user to the reception module.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first emitter may be configured to be placed on a bracelet (or garment or wearable item) worn by the user. The first transmitter may be configured to be placed on an anklet or on a wristband or bracelet.

The device also allows monitoring other vital signs such as pulse within the same device, by incorporating the corresponding sensors such as a pulse oximeter.

The present invention also relates to a mask incorporating a breathing monitoring device as described above.

The mask can be made of a flame retardant and/or moisture resistant material.

The mask may comprise a breathing monitoring device according to the second embodiment described above wherein all or part of the fabric or textile material of the mask is formed by the second material.

The present invention also relates to a material consisting of a flexible poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether epoxy resin reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hardened with 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) (GNP/PEGDGE), suitable for use as deformation sensor element (100).

Likewise, the present invention also refers to the use of the material mentioned in the previous paragraph as a deformation sensing element.

Thus, the present invention seeks to solve one of the most important problems related to the monitoring of biological parameters and vital signs of a person, such as their breathing, something that is fundamental in the field of medicine and even more so in situations of pandemics or epidemics. inside and outside hospitals. Currently, there are no known sensors that are very light, highly sensitive to movements, very cheap, that in certain cases can generate their own operating power and that send voltage signals remotely to a control unit or a receiving system. portable like a cell phone or tablet. Using a material that is very small and light, highly sensitive to the change in its electrical resistance due to deformation, we can monitor a patient's breathing through the movements suffered by the mask (FPP2, surgical, etc.) that they are wearing, during the processes of inspiration and expiration.

In the event that the material is a triboelectric energy sensor (TENG) (second embodiment of the mask), it produces its own operating energy and sends signals on its own to a receiving system through an antenna that comes out of it. sensor or by a radio transmitter that is connected to it and that sends the wireless signal to a Gateway or receiver connected to the Internet, so that the monitoring signal can be seen on an Internet platform.

In the case of the first embodiment of the mask, the first material highly sensitive to changes in electrical resistance is connected to a small battery, for example, a 3 V flat Li cell, by means of two electrodes that act as electrodes. of force and that generate the necessary electrical power so that the change in electrical resistance of the material when deformed can be detected. On the other hand, two other monitoring or measuring electrodes, located between the other two power electrodes, detect the current that passes through the circuit through the potential drop between the points of the material to which they are connected and the change in conductivity. of the sample in that length of material. Thus, the potential difference, which is measured by a radio transmitter (type LoRa, Wi-Fi or similar), can be monitored locally or remotely and will show a pattern depending on the type of deformation suffered by the material.

The first material highly sensitive to changes in electrical conductivity is constituted by a flexible epoxy resin of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The PEGDGE epoxy resin monomer is cured with 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). The strain sensor attached to the mask can have dimensions of 50x15x3 mm3 although this geometry and dimensions can be changed, since it is easily manipulated.

Alternatively, the second material that is attached to the mask or even that can act as its entire coating, can be a triboelectric energy nanogenerator (TENG) whose friction and contact between layers of different electronegativity produces a very high electrification and as a consequence a high self-generation of electrical power that is transmitted through electrodes that emerge from the conductive parts of the TENG layers and end in a radio emitter sensor. This radio transmitter can wirelessly emit the voltage signal generated by the TENG or allow it to be monitored locally through a processing unit, that is, a computer, tablet, or similar.

The TENG can be made of different triboelectric materials. For example: flame retardant materials with different percentages of PPA-PEI and with PV concentrations N 1, 5, 10 and 100 wt% PPA-PEI: PVDF. Others may also be those that have HFP, such as Paper@50PA:PVDF-HFP and others that are low cost and easier to manufacture, such as those that have PDMS: Al-paper:PDMS-Al.

The TENG can have an antenna that emits the signal generated during the breathing process a few meters away. In this way, no signal transmitter is necessary as long as a radio receiver is located at a close distance that acts as a Gateway and allows the signal generated by the TENG, corresponding to inspiration and, to be monitored on the Internet through any IoT platform. subject's expiration.

Whenever there is a radio transmitter, there must be a receiver that receives the signal and sends it via Wi-Fi to any IoT internet portal or through an Ethernet cable connected to the network. The transmitter can also receive the signal and monitor it locally, on a computer located next to the patient.

Radio transmitters can be of different types and follow various protocols. In the case that LoRa (Long Range) is used, the distance from the transmitter to the receiver can be very large, up to 20 km in interurban areas and hundreds of km in open field areas without interference. Through a LoRa network, continuous transmissions of breathing patterns can be achieved with acquisition frequencies of up to 111 ms using certain LoRa transmitters and a specialized information upload and download code. In this way, the patient's breathing can be monitored in control units located nearby. very long distances from the radio frequency emitter. This system is very useful for cases in which there are elderly people living alone and who have to use masks, either in pandemic situations or in situations in which the patient needs one to monitor their vital status.

The RAK of LoRA or Gateway can have different operating frequencies: in the subGHz range (868/914, MHz) or in the 2.4 GHz range.

The first radio frequency emitter is attached to the first material highly sensitive to changes in electrical resistance or to the second corresponding TENG material. Therefore, this first emitter is small and easily integrated into the mask itself or into a bracelet, anklet, wristband or bracelet worn by the user.

In the event that only one antenna is used to transmit the breathing signal, there will be no radio frequency transmitter but simply a receiver that transmits said signal to the Internet by radio or cable. In addition, an ADC (analog digital converter) can be used together with the receiver, for which, above a certain threshold, the signal goes from a low to a high state.

In the same transmitter, text messages indicative of the subject's breathing status can be sent, in the same way as other alarm values when the breathing rate is indicative of apnea or health problems.

Other sensors can be incorporated into the same mask, such as O ₂ , CO ₂ , NO concentration meters, as well as temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. They will measure these physical magnitudes both due to the air expelled in the mask and due to external environmental conditions. Some of these sensors, such as those for monitoring environmental conditions, can be integrated into the radio frequency emitter and are complemented by the respiration rate detected by the first material, highly sensitive to changes in electrical resistance as well as by the self-generated signal by the second. TENG material, incorporated where appropriate into the mask.

Brief description of the figures

A figure is briefly described here as a non-limiting example, which helps to better understand the invention:

Figure 1: schematically shows a first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device object of the present invention.

Figure 2: schematically shows the connection of the respiration monitoring device to a bracelet with a radio transmitter, according to the first or second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device object of the present invention.

Figure 3: schematically shows a first variant of a second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device object of the present invention, where the deformation sensing elements are configured for wired connection with a short-range radio frequency emitter. .

Figure 4: schematically shows a second variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device object of the present invention, where the deformation sensor elements are configured for wireless connection through an antenna, with a receiver. radio frequency.

Figure 5: schematically shows the wired connection of the deformation sensing elements to the short-range radio frequency emitter, in the first variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device.

Figure 6: schematically shows the wireless connection using an antenna of the deformation sensing elements to the radio frequency receiver and the wired connection of said radio frequency receiver with the short-range radio frequency emitter, in the second variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device.

Figure 7: schematically shows the elements involved in monitoring the breathing of a user wearing a mask according to the first embodiment of the breathing monitoring device of the present invention.

Figure 8: shows, analogously to Figure 7, the elements involved in monitoring the breathing of a user wearing a mask, according to the first variant or the second variant of the second embodiment of the breathing monitoring device of the present invention.

Figure 9: shows a set of monitoring graphs, on an IoT platform, for both high and low range radio emissions, of a person's breathing in relaxed, less relaxed and more excited mode.

Figure 10a: shows a graph with the monitoring over time of the change in normalized resistance, both in normal breathing and in suffocating breathing.

Figure 10b: shows a detailed graph with the shape of the voltage wave detected in inspiration and expiration modes.

Figure 11: shows a graph with the change in the normalized resistance divided by the deformation suffered (R-Ro)/Ros experienced by the deformation sensing element, according to the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, under stress. to which it is subjected for GNP concentrations of 8 and 10%.

Detailed description

The present invention relates, as mentioned above, to a respiration monitoring device.

The breathing monitoring device object of the present invention is configured to be incorporated into a mask (1). The mask (1) can, for example, be a type FFP2 mask or similar.

The respiration monitoring device comprises one or more deformation sensor elements (100) arranged between its layers or attached to one of the faces of the mask (1) (for example, the deformation sensor element(s) (100). deformations may be adhered to the outer face or outer surface of the mask (1)).

Each deformation sensor element (100) is composed of a material that is highly sensitive to deformations.

According to the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device object of the present invention (shown in Figure 1), the respiration monitoring device comprises at least one deformation sensor element (100) that is characterized by varying its electrical resistance to deformation.

In the present invention, a first specific and novel material (2) has been designed to form the deformation sensor element(s) (100) of the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device of the invention.

This novel first material (2) is a flexible poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether epoxy resin reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hardened with 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). This novel first material (2) is highly sensitive to the change in its electrical conductivity upon deformation.

According to the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, a battery or power supply (3) that occupies very little space acts as a power source by supplying a potential difference to the deformation sensor element (100), through two electrodes. that come out of said power supply (3).

In this first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the deformation sensor element (100) is connected to two other electrodes called measurement electrodes (4), which allow the change in resistance of the first material (2) to be measured by means of the detection of the change in voltage that is related to the change in electrical resistance for a given electrical current.

This change in voltage is due to the deformation changes that the mask (1) presents upon inspiration and exhalation of the user wearing it, which are transmitted to the novel first material (2).

The measurement electrodes (4) carry this signal with information about the deformation of the first material (2) and are connected to a first radio frequency emitter (11) that can be coupled (see Figure 2) to a bracelet (5) in the forearm (or similar position) of the user in question.

Figure 7 shows a diagram of the elements involved in monitoring the breathing of a user wearing a mask (1) according to this first embodiment of the breathing monitoring device.

The first transmitter (11) sends a short-range wireless signal to a communications module (13). The communications module (13) is configured to receive the short-range signal that comes from the first transmitter (11) and forward the information about the user's respiratory rate (along with other additional information captured by other possible sensors that may be installed in the mask (1)) through a long-range signal to a reception module (14).

The communications module (13) can be configured for a LoRa (Long Range) emission with ranges of up to 20 km in interurban areas.

The reception module (14) is connected to the Internet, either wirelessly (WiFi) or wired via an Ethernet cable. Thus, the reception module (14) is configured to act as a gateway or gateway (which can be a raspberry pi with a RAK attached).

The reception module (14) receives the long-range signal that comes from the communications module (13) and sends information about the user's respiratory rate (along with other additional information captured by other possible sensors that may be installed on the mask. (1)) via the Internet to a monitoring center (17) (for example, a hospital or a health center) with a telemedicine unit for monitoring patients located in places far from the monitoring center (17).

From the monitoring center (17), the medical or healthcare personnel, through monitoring equipment (15) (a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.), can monitor on the screen (6) of said monitoring equipment ( 15), the information about the user's respiratory rate (along with other additional information captured by other possible sensors of the breathing monitoring device that may be installed in the mask (1)), information that has been uploaded from the reception (14) to an internet platform (16).

The screen (6) of the monitoring equipment (15) or a processing unit (computer, mobile phone, etc.) allows breathing monitoring to be viewed on the Internet, through a platform (16) characteristic of the Internet of Things ( IoT).

From the reception module (14), if configured using LoRaWAN technology, platforms such as TTS (The Things of Stack) can be used. On the other hand, through monitoring and data representation programs, the voltage signal can be monitored on said platforms (16). An example of a program used in LoRaWAN is UbiDOTS. Furthermore, in the case of using remote data transfers over long distances, which are usually characterized by low acquisition frequencies, acquisition frequencies of 0.1 s can be obtained through acquisition programs, which are sufficient frequencies for respiration monitoring. All the data can go to monitoring centers (17) or control units in cities and more specifically hospitals where the data received will be analyzed.

According to a second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the at least one deformation sensing element (100) is one (or two) sheet(s) of a second triboelectric material (7).

Thus, according to this second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device (see Figure 3), the respiration monitoring device comprises (arranged between the layers or attached, for example, to an outer face of the mask (1 )) at least one deformation sensor element (100), which comprises a second material (7) (triboelectric material), which behaves as a triboelectric energy nanogenerator (TENG).

The second material (7) (triboelectric material or TENG material) can be made of different triboelectric materials. For example: flame retardant materials with different percentages of PPA-PEI and with concentrations of PVA/1, 5, 10 and 100 wt% PPA-PEI: PVDF. Others may also be those that have HFP, such as Paper@50PA:PVDF-HFP and others that are low cost and easier to manufacture, such as those that have PDMS: Alpaper:PDMS-Al.

Thus, in the respiration monitoring device according to the second embodiment, the strain sensing element (100) may comprise two electrode sheets (8, 9) (one positive electrode sheet (8) and one negative electrode sheet (9)) or a single electrode sheet (the negative connected to ground) in such a way that the movement of the mask (1) due to the user's breathing produces friction and contact between the electropositive and electronegative layers of the second material (7) triboelectric, generating a voltage signal that represents the breathing rate of the patient or user.

Figure 4 shows a first variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device. According to this first variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the at least one deformation sensor element (100) is connected to an antenna (10). Through this antenna (10), the deformation sensor element (100) sends information about the user's respiratory rate to a first receiver (12), which is in turn connected to the first emitter (11) (see Figure 6 ).

The first receiver (12) can also behave as an analog digital converter (ADC), transforming the received signal into a low (0V) or high (5V) voltage state depending on whether the signal reaches a threshold or not.

The antenna (10) can be coupled to the conductive material layer of one of the two triboelectric layers of the strain sensing element (100) of the respiration monitoring device, such that the voltage signal associated with respiration can be transmitted. at close distances from it.

Figure 5 shows a second variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device. According to this second variant of the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the at least one deformation sensor element (100) is directly connected to the first emitter (12) by means of a wired connection.

In both the first variant and the second variant of the second embodiment, the deformation sensing element (100) generates enough energy (due to the triboelectric effect) to not need a battery or power source connected to said sensing element. (100) deformation.

Figure 8 shows a diagram of the elements involved in monitoring the breathing of a user wearing a mask (1) according to the second embodiment of the breathing monitoring device (either in its first variant or in its second variant).

In a manner analogous to what occurred with the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, also in the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, once the information about the user's respiration has been sent to the first transmitter (11), the communications scheme is the same as that of Figure 7 with the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device.

If some type of anomaly is detected from the monitoring center (17) in the user's breathing data received, alarm messages can be sent to the mobile phone or another device of the user or a residence in the event that the The subject's breathing does not follow a normal pattern.

However, data relating to the user's breathing under normal breathing conditions can also be sent to the user's mobile phone or other device or a residence's device, and not only when some type of anomaly is detected.

As already mentioned, the monitoring device can incorporate other possible sensors configured to be installed in the mask (1), in addition to the deformation sensor element (100) dedicated to measuring the respiratory rate. Thus, the monitoring device can incorporate T meters, pulse oximeters to complement the patient's breathing, etc.

Both with the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device (with the deformation sensor element (100) formed by the first material (2) (GNP/PEGDGE)) and with the second embodiment of the respiration monitoring device respiration (with the deformation sensing element (100) formed by the second material (7) (TENG)), respiration can be monitored when the subject is in relaxed (18) as when in excited mode (19). In fact, due to the high sensitivity of the materials used, the different states of tranquility/excitement in which the subject appears can be easily distinguished.

Figure 9 shows a set of graphs monitoring the breathing of a person in relaxed mode (12), less relaxed mode and excited mode (19).

In the case of the first embodiment of the respiration monitoring device, the respiration monitoring with the first material (2) (GNP/PEGDGE) is due to the change of the nominal electrical resistance (20) with the deformation ( see Figure 10a). Like voltage, this change in nominal resistance will be different if the subject is breathing in normal mode or excited mode. What's more, the inspiration process generates a different form of voltage than expiration (see Figure 10b) and this is due to the type of deformation suffered by the surface of the mask (1) and, as a consequence, the first material (2). .

As additional information, the percentage of GNP in the first material (2) (GNP/PEGDGE) can greatly affect the gauge factor (22) with respect to mechanical stress. Said gauge factor (22) is the relationship between the change in normalized resistance (G=dR/R0) and the deformation (e) (G=dR/R0e), which can reach values of 80 for force tensions of 0. 2 N (see Figure 11).

Claims (10)

1. Respiration monitoring device characterized in that it comprises a deformation sensor element (100) configured to be incorporated into a mask (1) and to produce an electrical signal in the event of deformations produced in the fabric or textile material of the mask (1). ) by the breathing of a user of the mask (1), where the breathing monitoring device is configured to transmit said electrical signal to a remote monitoring center (17); where the deformation sensor element (100) is formed by a first material (2) consisting of flexible poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether epoxy resin reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hardened with 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) (GNP /PEGDGE). 2. Respiration monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformation sensor element (100) comprises at least one sheet configured to be inserted in the layers that make up the fabric or textile material of the mask (1), or to be adhered to a face or exterior surface of the mask (1). 3. Respiration monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation sensor element (100) is connected by wired connection to a first emitter (11). 4. Respiration monitoring device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first transmitter (11) is configured to transmit a signal with data related to the user's breathing to the remote monitoring center (17), through a wireless communication with a reception module (14), where the reception module (14) comprises an internet connection for the transmission of data related to the user's breathing to an internet platform (16), accessible from a device monitoring center (15) located in the remote monitoring center (17). 5. Respiration monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wireless communication between the first transmitter (11) and the reception module (14) is configured in a first short-range stage and a second long-range stage, where in the first short-range stage the first transmitter (11) is configured to transmit a short-range radio frequency signal carrying data related to the user's breathing to a communications module (13) , and where in the second long-range stage the communications module (13) is configured to transmit a long-range radio frequency signal carrying data related to the user's breathing to the reception module (14). 6. Respiration monitoring device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first emitter (11) is configured to be coupled to a bracelet (5) or wristband or anklet that can be worn by the user. 7. Mask (1) characterized in that it comprises a breathing monitoring device according to any of claims 1 to 6. 8. Mask (1) according to claim 7, characterized by being made of a fireproof and/or moisture-resistant material. 9. Material consisting of flexible poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether epoxy resin reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hardened with 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) (GNP/PEGDGE), suitable for use as a sensor element (100) of deformation). 10. Use of the material of claim 9 as a deformation sensor element (100).