Embedded textile monitoring sensors

Wearable technologies for personal protective equipment embedded textile monitoring sensors, power and data transmission, end-life indicators... 

A new type of smart medical textile embedding optical fibres for monitoring anesthetized or sedated patients under MRI examination is presented. Preliminaiy results of the behaviour of optical fibres onbedded into elastic and non-elastic fabrics are given. In addition, a preliminary proof of concept of an elastic fiibric cqrable of monitoring respiratory movements is reported. The fiirfher development of fire smart textile incorporating sensors for the acquisition of ECG, plethysmographic waveform... 

GriUet, A., Kinet, D., Witt, J., Schukar, M., Krebber, K., Pirotte, F., Depre, A., 2008. Optical fiber sensors embedded into medical textiles for healthcare monitoring. Sensors Journal, TEEE 8 (7), 121.5-1222. 

Vermeersch, O.G., Begriche, A., Decaens, J., Mlynarek, J., 2013. Wearable technologies for PPE power and data transmission, environment monitoring, temperature, alarms, embedded textile sensors, end-life indicators. In 3rd International Conference of Engineering Against Failure (ICEAF III). 

Messervey, T.B., Zangani, D., Fuggini, C., 2010. Sensor-embedded textiles for the reinforcement, dynamic characterisation, and structural health monitoring of masonry structures. In Structural Health Monitoring 2010, Sorrento, Naples, June 28-July 4. 

Wearable technology consists of wearable electronics, a term that mainly includes simple and more complex electronic devices and their embedding within textile structures. A good example of the popularity of the research subject is the current Qualcomm Tricorder X-Prize competition for the best portable, wireless device that monitors and diagnoses health conditions (XPRIZE, 2014). Undoubtedly, as the aim is that the device monitors such elements as blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature, some of the sensors of the device will come in the form of textile-embedded electronics. 

A114Rest is a European-funded project focussing on improving tactile and thermal comfort in rest systems to promote a deeper, more restorative sleep. In the project s framework textile sensors embedded in a mattress were developed to monitor sleeping quality by measuring body movement and room temperature. This section summarises the results on the sensor systems (A114Rest, 2011). 

The insertion of q[>tical fibre into elastic and non-elastic fiihrics was considered. Elastic substrates allow having a good cdiesion betweoi the patient skin and the textile whoe the sensor is embedded. On the other hand, nonelastic textiles may be preferred when only transmisaon of light is required (between the sensor and the monitoring module for instance). 

In conclusion, fibre optic sensors are ideal eandidates to be embedded in textile structural composites for monitoring manufaeturing processes and internal health eonditions. The sensors provide an effective means by whieh the distributions of a number of physieal parameters, such as temperature, stress/strain, thermal expansion, pressure, ete., ean be quantitatively determined. In integrating the sensors into textile eomposites, apart from the properties of the sensors themselves, the rehabihty of the sensors and sensing seheme as well... 

Along with the increased demands of performance monitoring, personal training, and injmry prevention, wearable sensors have been attracting much attention from the sportswear market. The t) pical textile sensors embedded into commercial sportswear... 

Kang, T., 2006. Textile-Embedded Sensors for Wearable Physiological Monitoring Systems. PhD Dissertation. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 

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