Stretchable zipper

Abstract

The smart wearable system composed of stretchable electronics and bodysuits is a focus in healthcare and human-machine interaction. Despite advances in stretchable electronics, a stretchability mismatch persists between zippers and stretchable fabrics, which are key components of bodysuits, affecting the system’s function, comfort, and aesthetics. The key challenge lies in the contradiction between the requirement for closely arranged teeth in traditional zippers and the demand for stretchability in stretchable zippers. Here, we report a bio-inspired stretchable zipper, which achieves interlocking through interlaced spatulate teeth, suppresses separation perpendicular to interlocking surfaces via a suture joint, and prevents excessive inter-tooth distance by a hook-furrow structure. The novel slider provides teeth rotation space during interlocking through the reciprocation of movable blocks. The stretchable zipper can maintain interlocking and effortless zipping/unzipping over a wide range of strain and strain differences (0%-25%, respectively). In applications for hemiplegia rehabilitation wearable systems and wound closure, stretchable zippers show advantages in enhancing conformability, paving the way for smart wearable systems.

Keywords

Stretchability / zipper / bio-inspired structure designs / smart wearable systems / mechanical structure

References

[1] Bicudo DC,Almeida PD.Ecology and distribution of Aulacoseira species (Bacillariophyta) in tropical reservoirs from Brazil.Diatom Res2016;31:199-215

[2] Casa V,Van de Vijver B.A new Aulacoseira species (Bacillariophyta) from Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) and comparison with the type material of Melosira laevis var. fuegiana Frenguelli.Diatom Res2017;32:409-16

[3] Tremarin PI,Ludwig TV.Ultrastructure and distribution of Aulacoseira gessneri.Diatom Res2011;26:189-97

[4] Ageli MK,Bramburger AJ.Morphological variation in extinct Aulacoseira (Bacillariophyta) species from Lake Towuti, with a description of novel species.J Great Lakes Res2024;50:102230

[5] Hamm CE,Springer O.Architecture and material properties of diatom shells provide effective mechanical protection.Nature2003;421:841-3

[6] Soleimani M,Maddala SP.In situ manipulation and micromechanical characterization of diatom frustule constituents using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy.Small Methods2021;5:e2100638

[7] Toofani A,Khorsandi M.Biomechanical strategies underlying the durability of a wing-to-wing coupling mechanism.Acta Biomater2020;110:188-95

[8] Ma Y,Ren HL,Zhao HY.The function of resilin in honeybee wings.J Exp Biol2015;218:2136-42

[9] Eraghi SH,Khaheshi A.Wing coupling in bees and wasps: from the underlying science to bioinspired engineering.Adv Sci2021;8:e2004383 PMCID:PMC8373159

[10] Ma Y,Rajabi H,Ning J.Structure, properties and functions of the forewing-hindwing coupling of honeybees.J Insect Physiol2019;118:103936

[11] Wickramasinghe S,Ladani R.Analysing fracture properties of bio-inspired 3D printed suture structures.Thin Walled Struct2022;176:109317

[12] Li J,Sang Y.A flexible, reusable and adjustable high-performance energy absorption system inspired by interlocking suture structures.Int J Solids Struct2024;296:112839

[13] Wickramasinghe S,Peng C,Kajtaz M.Influence of design parameters on the flexural properties of a bio-inspired suture structure.Virtual Phys Prototyp2023;18:e2204845

[14] Chen PY.Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications.Nature2020;586:502-4

[15] Rivera J,Restrepo D.Toughening mechanisms of the elytra of the diabolical ironclad beetle.Nature2020;586:543-8

[16] Suh IW,Chanchamnan S.Diabolical ironclad beetle elytra-inspired flexible WE43 magnesium endovascular stent structures and their biomechanical potential.J Magnes Alloys2025;13:709-18

[17] Lin R,Achavananthadith S.Wireless battery-free body sensor networks using near-field-enabled clothing.Nat Commun2020;11:444 PMCID:PMC6978350

[18] Li C,Xu C.Sensing of joint and spinal bending or stretching via a retractable and wearable badge reel.Nat Commun2021;12:2950 PMCID:PMC8136475

[19] Hong Y,Lin W.Highly anisotropic and flexible piezoceramic kirigami for preventing joint disorders.Sci Adv2021;7:eabf0795 PMCID:PMC7954449

[20] Wang X,Dong W,Huang Y.Flexible strain sensor based on conductive hydrogel/KC@PDMS for neck motion control wheelchair using EMD-LSTM algorithm.IEEE Sensors J2024;24:4079-90

[21] Liu S,Zhang Y.A wearable motion capture device able to detect dynamic motion of human limbs.Nat Commun2020;11:5615 PMCID:PMC7645594

[22] Kim KK,Kim M.A deep-learned skin sensor decoding the epicentral human motions.Nat Commun2020;11:2149 PMCID:PMC7195472

[23] Olivares A,Mula F,Ramírez J.Wagyromag: wireless sensor network for monitoring and processing human body movement in healthcare applications.J Syst Archit2011;57:905-15

[24] Hannigan BC,Ahmadizadeh C.Distributed sensing along fibers for smart clothing.Sci Adv2024;10:eadj9708 PMCID:PMC10954209

[25] Lee GH,Chung JW.Stretchable PPG sensor with light polarization for physical activity-permissible monitoring.Sci Adv2022;8:eabm3622 PMCID:PMC9007514

[26] Bu Y,Yang W.Ultrasensitive strain sensor based on superhydrophobic microcracked conductive Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/paper for human-motion monitoring and E-skin.Sci Bull2021;66:1849-57

[27] Hu B,Shao Y.Ultrathin crystalline silicon-based omnidirectional strain gauges for implantable/wearable characterization of soft tissue biomechanics.Sci Adv2024;10:eadp8804 PMCID:PMC11463283

[28] Lu P,Zhu P.Iontronic pressure sensor with high sensitivity and linear response over a wide pressure range based on soft micropillared electrodes.Sci Bull2021;66:1091-100

[29] Su Q,Li Y.A stretchable and strain-unperturbed pressure sensor for motion interference-free tactile monitoring on skins.Sci Adv2021;7:eabi4563 PMCID:PMC8612682

[30] Bastian PJ,Albers P.A new form of noninvasive wound closure with a surgical zipper.J Urol2003;169:1785-6

[31] Xie CX,Wang W,Yin D.A novel zipper device versus sutures for wound closure after surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int Wound J2020;17:1725-37 PMCID:PMC7949300

[32] Ninan N,Grohens Y.Wound healing in urology.Adv Drug Deliv Rev2015;82-83:93-105