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Smart fabrics, the new black
Smart fabrics and intelligent textiles – material that incorporates cunning molecules or clever electronics – is thriving and European research efforts are tackling some of the sector’s toughest challenges.
Clothes that monitor your heart, measure the chemical composition of your body fluids or keep track of you and your local environment promise to revolutionise healthcare and emergency response, but they present tough research challenges, too.
Smart textiles must be comfortable, their technology must be unobtrusive, they must withstand a difficult and variable environment and, particularly for medical and emergency applications, they must be absolutely reliable.
Europe has not been slow to spot the potential of Fashion 2.0, with many projects funded by the EU to develop new applications and innovative solutions to old problems. The EU has even set up a research cluster for the sector.
“Many of the underlying objectives are the same, like connectivity, wearability and ensuring the fabric is accepted by users.”
The cluster achieved some remarkable cross-pollination between projects. “The textile electrode used in Wealthy, for example, extended to three other projects, MyHeart, Proetex and Biotex. In Biotex for instance, it was not our intention to develop a dry textile electrode again, so the help was a bonus.”
The SFIT Cluster currently regroups the projects Context, Proetex, Sweet, Stella, Ofseth, Biotex and Clevertex. Lessons were taken from Wealthy, which had finished its work developing intelligent systems for health monitoring before the cluster started, and from MyHeart, which developed a textile sensor for continuous heart monitoring.
DisasterWear, clothing for emergencies
SFIT’s Context project sought to develop contactless sensors for the prevention of lower back pain and repetitive strain syndrome.
Proetex aimed its sights at rescue workers like fire fighters and is developing a system to monitor the wearer and the outside environment.
Sweet project is developing stretchable and washable electronics for embedding in textiles so smart clothes can cope with daily wash, wear and tear.
The Stella project is developing stretchable electronics for large area applications. Currently, there are no stretchable electronics on the market but they could have wide application, particularly for health monitoring. The team hopes to develop conducting substrates within the very weave of fabric, which will allow sensors to move with the body.
Optical fibres also offer a promising avenue for new smart clothing because of their potential flexibility and their capacity to use light both as an information carrier and a sensor in itself. The team behind the Ofseth project is aiming at applications in oximetry – a clever non-invasive way to measure the oxygen content of blood
In a hospital setting, a clip is attached to a patient’s finger measuring a ratio in the absorption of red and infrared light passed through a patient’s finger, which varies depending on the state of oxygen-rich, bright red blood and oxygen-poor, dark red blood. Ofseth researchers hope to replicate the measure in clothing (without the need for the finger clip typically used in hospitals) by placing optical fibres around the neck of a smart garment.
In a related healthcare activity, the Mermoth project worked on integrating smart sensors, advanced signal processing techniques and new telecommunication systems on a textile platform.
wet electronics
Biotex is looking at the chemical monitoring of textiles, a new frontier in the emerging field of smart textiles. Most smart fabric applications want to stay dry, but Biotex is hoping to develop sensors that can measure body fluids like sweat, too. If they are successful, it will open up whole new areas for smart applications.
“Right now we’re looking at sporting applications, because the medical applications are very difficult to bring to market and require enormous validation efforts to ensure reliability in a medical setting,” explains Luprano.
The Biotex system aims to measure the conductivity, electrolyte level, temperature and pH of the users sweat, all enormously useful indicators for sporting applications. The project also aims at monitoring wound healing by placing biosensors in contact with exudates present in wounds.
Clevertex is taking a big picture view of the field in its efforts to develop a strategic ‘master plan’ for transforming, by 2015, the traditional textile and clothing sector into a knowledge-driven industrial sector.
The projects in the SFIT cluster mean a double benefit for Europe’s smart-clothing sector. The applications are useful in themselves, and the technical solutions developed in each project will benefit the range of smart-clothing systems.
The SFIT cluster and its associated projects received funding from the European Union’s Framework Program for research
Smart clothes: textiles that track your health
Garments that can measure a wearer's body temperature or trace their heart activity are just entering the market, but the European project BIOTEX weaves new functions into smart textiles. Miniaturised biosensors in a textile patch can now analyse body fluids, even a tiny drop of sweat, and provide a much better assessment of someone's health.
It is 7 o’clock in the morning. You check yourself in the mirror, adjust your collar, and consider the hectic day ahead. But at least you know that the stress won't damage your health, for this is no ordinary set of clothes you are wearing. Embedded within the fabric are numerous sensors, constantly monitoring your vital signs. If danger signs are detected, the garment is programmed to contact your doctor – and send a text message telling you to take it easy.
A cluster of EU research projects (SFIT Group) is supporting this burgeoning field of smart fabrics, interactive textiles and flexible wearable systems. Jean Luprano, a researcher at the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), coordinates the BIOTEX project.
“One of the most obvious applications for smart fabrics is in the medical field,” he says. “There has been a good deal of progress with physiological measurements, body temperature or electro-cardiograms. But no-one has yet developed biochemical sensing techniques that can take measurements from fluids like sweat and blood. We are developing a suite of sensors that can be integrated into a textile patch. The patch is a sensing and processing unit, adaptable to target different body fluids and biochemical species.
At the very least, some basic biochemical analyses could complement the physiological measurements that can already be monitored. In some circumstances, fluidic analysis may be the only way to get information on a patient's health status.”
Sensing success
But there is a simple reason why researchers have shied away from developing smart textiles for fluid monitoring: it is extremely tricky. How do you collect a fluid and transport it to a biosensing unit? Can you perform non-invasive blood tests? Can measurements be reliable and accurate with tiny volumes of liquid?
The BIOTEX partners – universities and small enterprises from Italy, France and Ireland – have collaborated with CSEM to overcome some of the technical barriers to biosensing textiles.
One of the main achievements of the project has been the development of a suite of prototype ionic biosensors, capable of measuring sodium, potassium and chloride in sweat samples. Another probe measures the conductivity of sweat and a miniaturised pH sensor uses colour changes to indicate the pH of sweat. An immunosensor, which could be integrated into wound dressings or bandages, can detect the presence of specific proteins in fluid samples.
These biosensors are not just scaled-down versions of existing technology, Luprano is keen to point out. “Many of the chemical or biochemical reactions used in sample assays are non-reversible and some part of the biosensor has to be replaced. When you monitor continuously you can't do that – you need a sensor that binds your substrate reversibly. Also, the BIOTEX sensors work on tiny volumes of liquid, so we had to come up with innovative designs and materials that would make it possible to miniaturise the sensors and make them compatible with fabrics.”
Several of the BIOTEX probes, including the pH sensor, use colour changes or other optical measurements. For example, as sweat passes through the pH sensor it causes an indicator to change colour which is detected by a portable spectrometer device. The immunosensor technology works in a similar fashion. Plastic optical fibres (POFs) are woven into the fabric so that light can be supplied to the optical sensors and the reflected light directed to the spectrometer.
Small and smart
The BIOTEX oxygen probelm measures levels of oxygen saturation in the blood around the thorax using a technique called reflective oximetry. A cluster of POFs allows a large surface of the thorax to be illuminated and improves the collection of the reflected red and infrared light used for the oximeter sensor. Signal processing also improves the sensitivity of this method.
Having an array of biosensors in a textile patch is one thing, but how do you get fluids to them in the first place?
“The volume of fluid secreted from sweat glands is just a few millilitres over a small surface,” says Luprano, “and the body's heat means this is rapidly vaporised. We needed some kind of pump that could collect sweat in one area and bring Electronic Textiles and Smart Fabrics
I've talked about the emergence of smart fabrics and electronic textiles in previous shows, but this is an area that continues to evolve in some really fascinating ways, so I thought it was time for a bit of an update; there's been some pretty cool news over the past few months. Did you watch the track and field events during the Olympics this summer?Did you know that during the trials one the Olympic hopefuls was wearing nanotechnology on his feet? Or maybe I should say - nanotechnology may have improved his performance? During the 400 meter race and other sprinting events, Jeremy Wariner wore a new track shoe from adidas, with spikes reinforced with carbon nanotubes. This made the metal spikes normally worn on these shoes (which gives the runners traction) and the plate on which the spikes are placed, both lighter and stronger. It's said this new plate (and spikes) provides more stability and comfort, better torsion, improved safety, and increased flexibility, all which minimizes energy loss. That may seem slightly silly, but as we found during the swimming events, when it comes to the Olympics, thousands of a second (or perhaps in this case - nanoseconds) can really make a difference.Speaking of spikes, that reminds me of a knife-proof fabric I mentioned last year. A similar fabric has been developed, which is a knit along the lines of a t-shirt. However, this material is made from a combination of ultra-high strength liquid crystal polymer and wool. Not only will it resist the puncture of a knife, but because of the wool, the fabric is flame resistant as well (a well-known property of wool). In fact, the polymer actually enhances this. So much so that the company who developed the textile apparently demonstrated this by applying a blowtorch to a vest made of the fabric - while it was being worn! How many of you live in neighborhoods where stab, cut and fire-resistant clothes would come in handy?Speaking of wool, that reminds me of some news I heard about earlier this year. Researchers at Victoria University in New Zealand discovered that adding nanoparticles of pure gold or silver to fine Marino wool results in a rainbow of unexpected colors. If you use gold, the wool ranges in color from maroon and dark red, to purple, blue and gray; whereas the use of silver results in bright yellows, greens and oranges. The color you end up with depends on the type of metal (i.e. silver or gold), the size of the nanoparticles, and in some cases, even their shape. The amount used determines color intensity. And if you think about it, the use of silver has the added benefit of producing an anti-microbial effect. It's my understanding that high-end designers are very interested in the process.Speaking of really tiny particles, DNA is pretty small, isn't it? I'm sure most of you are familiar with DNA as it pertains to crime scene investigation and finding criminals; but, what about protecting against counterfeiting? Counterfeiting within the apparel industry, whether it's clothes, shoes or purses, is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Well, a company has come up with a new approach: using the DNA of botanicals (such as plants) and then encapsulating it into ink for use on clothing labels or the thread used to make fabric itself. That's very intriguing, I will say.In this week's radio show we'll talk with Material Connexion and learn more about how technology is changing the textile industry. And along the same lines, in our news of the week: fabrics that eliminate pain, business suits that shield you from cell phone radiation, and electronic swimsuits!
it to the sensor array, where it could be channelled through each sensor.”
The solution uses a combination of hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repellent) yarns. It is possible to weave these two threads to direct the sweat through fabric channels to the sensor array. It is a passive system using no power, thereby reducing the power demands of the BIOTEX system (and the weight of a battery pack that the wearer would have to carry).
In the first BIOTEX trials, the smart patches will be worn in clothes by people with obesity and diabetes, as well as athletes. Once the technology has been validated, the plan is to take on industrial backers to commercialise it. Meanwhile, a large EU-funded project within the same SFIT group, called PROETEX, is integrating the technology with other micro- and nanosystems for specific applications (fire fighting and rescue teams).
However, whilst BIOTEX has solved several of the technical aspects of continuous biochemical monitoring, Luprano calls for more research into the application of this technology.
“It's new and healthcare providers are not used to it. We are not used to the information that continuous, remote monitoring can provide – so different to the one-off laboratory tests that are usually taken. BIOTEX makes this remote monitoring possible, but more research into the links between these indicators and disease conditions and states will make it realistic. Nevertheless, in the long-term we expect continuous monitoring, made possible with smart textiles, to make a major improvement to the way we approach the treatment of metabolic disorders and leisure.”
Smart fabric delivers wearable keyboard
Move over Inspector Gadget and Maxwell Smart, and make way for the jacket phone and palmtop computer trousers.BBC reports that a UK company has developed a clever cloth that can be used to make wearable and washable gadgets. Buckinghamshire-based Elektex has developed a technique that weaves wires into cloth to turn humble fabrics into something much smarter. While the number of gadgets is proliferating all the time, many can only be fully exploited with the use of a keyboard that makes entering or managing data much easier. Shrunken, detachable and fold-up keyboards can now be bought for all manner of gadgets to enable people to get the most out of their palmtop computer, MP3 player or mobile phone.But bulky human fingers often have a tough time typing using the tiny keys. Elektex claims its fabric keyboard could solve many of these problems. It said its full-size cloth keyboard would work on any hard surface and can be rolled up or stuffed in a pocket when not being used. Elektex showed off its technology at the IT Expo in Cannes earlier this week. A spokesman for the company said it had been almost "overwhelmed" by demand for the clever cloth keyboard. Elektex uses wires that are woven into the cloth as it is being produced. The woven wires form a grid covering the whole fabric. "The fabric could be velvet, denim or a nice chintz - whatever you want," said Bob Metcalfe, a spokesman for the company. "You can have your mobile phone keypad in the sleeve of your jacket." Pressing on the cloth deforms the wires changing their conductivity. This allows the electronics developed alongside the cloth to work out where the cloth has been pressed and what character this represents. Just like a computer screen, the fabric can have different resolutions by weaving more or less conductive wires into the cloth. The Elektex technology is likely to be used first to make keyboards for the popular Palm type computers. The first cloth keyboards, phones and gadgets should be available next year. Future applications could be a fabric phone, smart car seats or computerised trousers
