Continuous dynamic microforce reconstruction using electrical stimulation for remote pulse diagnosis

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pulse diagnosis has a long history, characterized by doctors forming subjective diagnostic opinions in their minds based on the patient's pulse felt with their fingertips, rather than simply diagnosing based on pulse waves. As a result, TCM pulse diagnosis is significantly limited by spatial location, meaning that doctors and patients need face-to-face consultations, making remote diagnosis difficult. To address this spatial limitation, we propose a pulse reconstruction scheme based on the principle of electrotactile stimulation, allowing a remote feeling of pulses through electrical stimulation of the fingertips. We develop a simple system that uses electrical stimulation circuits and flexible fingertip electrodes, enabling doctors to remotely “touch” the patient's pulse by placing their fingers on these electrodes. We investigate the relationship between electrical stimulation settings and tactile sensations, determining optimal ranges (1–6 mA current, 100 V voltage, 100–800 μs pulse width, and 100 pulses per cycle) that mimic a tactile pressure of 0.17–1 N. Additionally, wearable sensors capture pulse signals, converting them into electrical parameters that our device uses to recreate pulse sensations through electrical stimulation. The results indicate that remote pulse reconstruction through the electrotactile approach is feasible, providing a reference for remote TCM pulse diagnosis.