Sensing human physiological response using wearable carbon nanotube-based fabrics

Long Wang; Kenneth J. Loh; Helen S. Koo

doi:10.1117/12.2219519

1 April 2016 Sensing human physiological response using wearable carbon nanotube-based fabrics

Long Wang, Kenneth J. Loh, Helen S. Koo

Proceedings Volume 9805, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2016; 98051X (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219519
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Abstract

Flexible and wearable sensors for human monitoring have received increased attention. Besides detecting motion and physical activity, measuring human vital signals (e.g., respiration rate and body temperature) provide rich data for assessing subjects’ physiological or psychological condition. Instead of using conventional, bulky, sensing transducers, the objective of this study was to design and test a wearable, fabric-like sensing system. In particular, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-latex thin films of different MWCNT concentrations were first fabricated using spray coating. Freestanding MWCNT-latex films were then sandwiched between two layers of flexible fabric using iron-on adhesive to form the wearable sensor. Second, to characterize its strain sensing properties, the fabric sensors were subjected to uniaxial and cyclic tensile load tests, and they exhibited relatively stable electromechanical responses. Finally, the wearable sensors were placed on a human subject for monitoring simple motions and for validating their practical strain sensing performance. Overall, the wearable fabric sensor design exhibited advances such as flexibility, ease of fabrication, light weight, low cost, noninvasiveness, and user comfort.

Citation Download Citation

Long Wang, Kenneth J. Loh, and Helen S. Koo "Sensing human physiological response using wearable carbon nanotube-based fabrics", Proc. SPIE 9805, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2016, 98051X (1 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219519

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