A soft condensed matter sensor (SCMS) designed to measure strains on the human body is presented. The hybrid material based on carbon black (CB) and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) was bonded to a textile elastic band and used as a sensor on the human wrist to measure hand motion by detecting the movement of tendons in the wrist. Additionally it was able to track the blood pulse wave of a person, allowing for the determination of pulse wave peaks corresponding to the systole and diastole blood pressures in order to calculate the heart rate. Sensor characterization was done using mechanical cycle testing, and the band sensor achieved a gauge factor of 4–6.3 while displaying low signal relaxation when held at a strain levels. Near-linear signal performance was displayed when loading to successively higher strain levels up to 50% strain.
Textile band structures with integrated soft condensed matter sensor (SCMS) can be used as a vital function monitor device to detect pulse wave and breathing on the human body. A textile an elastic band was used as a support material and the U-shaped SCMS fiber sensor was bonded on the surface with elastic band with a liquid rubber bonding material. The sensor signal and gauge factor of the textile sensor structure was investigated using tensile testing experiments. The resistivity of the sensor structure increased linearly within a strain of 10 to 50%, and a slope of 8 (kOhm/% strain) could be detected. The sensor had a gauge factor of 4-5 from 10 to 50% between strain. Using the integrated SCMS sensor textile band around the chest, it was possible to detect talking, normal breathing and coughing. In collaboration with Rice University the textile sensor was tested for proof-of-concept for use in a battery-powered monitor for apnea of premature infants.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.