Description

Non-invasive physiological monitoring system for dual heart rate/respiration measurement.

Features

• Electrical signal sensing or optical method to sense motion.
• Monitors heart rate and respiration.

Applications

• Heart-rate and respiration sensor
• Mechanical signal
• Simple and comfortable
• Familiar form factor
• Skin contact not required

Numerous systems of "smart garments" have been discussed in the literature and prototypes are being developed, but not all of these systems comprise true textile integration. Instead of electronic components integrated into the garment, often the electronic components are worn on a belt or elsewhere on the garment.

Textro-monitoring® Systems

The new fabric-based system is useful for monitoring motion, such as motion generated by a geometric change in the body surface in response to physiological activity like respiration and heart rate. The measurements are non-invasive do not require electrodes to contact the skin.

The new system consists of a fabric, which exhibits light transmission and reflection properties that can be placed strategically in a garment. The amount of light transmitted thought the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to a dramatic motion like respiration or a subtle motion like the beating of the heart.

Other Textro-monitoring® systems include methods for sensing the electrical signals generated by the body via textile electrodes in a unique design configuration which produces high quality signal sensing.