A team of scientists, from Rice University in Texas, USA, have created a washable smart shirt that is able to monitor the heart and vital signs of the human body.
According to the scientists, they sewed ultra-thin carbon nanotube fibers, which are just like cotton threads, into regular sportswear, using a standard sewing machine.
The carbon nanotube monitors the wearer’s heart rate and takes a continuous electrocardiogram (ECG), which captures the heart’s rhythm and electrical activity. The fibers woven into the fabric can also be used to embed antennas or LEDs, according to the researchers.
Also, slight adjustments to the fibers at the end can allow the garment to monitor vital signs, strength exertion or respiratory rate.
“Because of their combination of good skin-to-skin conductivity, biocompatibility and softness, carbon nanotube filaments are a natural component of wearable devices,” said engineer Matteo Pasquale from Rice University.
“The fibers are just as conductive as metal wires, but are washable, comfortable, and less likely to break when the body is in motion,” he added.
“In experiments, the shirt it was sewn on was better at collecting data than a standard chest belt monitor that takes live measurements.”
The researcher explained, “The fiber waves can be sewn on a piece of rubber cloth in a zigzag shape to form an electrode, to connect electronics such as Bluetooth transmitters to transmit data to a smartphone.”
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