Japan Develops New Wearable Materials

Just wear it. Shirt The product, which is used to monitor the electrocardiogram and pulse, has been published. It is the "sign information monitoring clothing" jointly developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT), NTT DoCoMo and Dongli. Because electrodes are implanted in clothing, there is no need for metal electrodes attached to the body surface. Signs and signs can also be easily monitored during exercise and sleep. The product can also be washed by water. According to NTT, "washing machines installed in washing nets can be washed more than 30 times. If you wash your hands, you can maintain electrical conductivity 50~60 times after washing.

To obtain signs, it is necessary to connect the metal buttons on the left shoulder of the clothing for monitoring signs. The device has built-in continuous monitoring of heart rate and ECG waveform, and has the function of sending Bluetooth to smart phone in short distance wireless communication mode.

　　 NTT DoCoMo In 2014, we plan to provide services for the monitoring of signs and the linkage of clothing and smart phones. In nanofibers, the conductive material is sealed, and the sweater itself is the electrode.

Using the cloth made of conductive polymer "PEDOTPSS" made of nanofiber cloth to make hitoe shirt, the signs of heart rate and ECG waveform can be monitored as long as it is put on.

The reason why clothing is used to monitor signs is that the conductive functional material "hitoe" has been developed. The basic technology of hitoe is the conductive polymer "PEDOT-PSS" that NTT has been developing before. PEDOT-PSS is not only soft, hydrophilic and certain strength, but also has biocompatibility. Therefore, even if it is close to the skin, it will not feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, because of its hydrophilicity, it is easy to fall off after washing.

Dongli Nanofibers The problem was solved by immersing PEDOT-PSS in the fabric made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber (PET nanofiber) with diameter of only 700nm. As a result, PEDOTPSS remained in the fiber and the washing resistance was improved. It is said that the diameter of the PET fiber used in ordinary clothes is about 15 m, so that PEDOT-PSS stays on the surface of the fiber, so it is not resistant to washing. In addition, through the use of PET nanofibers, the contact area between the fabric and the skin is larger than that of ordinary fibers, so that reliable monitoring results can be obtained.

It is said that the clothing has optimized the position of electrodes for monitoring heart rate and electrocardiogram, and can monitor electromyography and brainwave if the electrodes are replaced with other locations.