Body-monitoring with photonic textiles: a reflective heartbeat sensor based on polymer optical fibres.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of an individual's skin condition is important for pressure ulcer prevention. Detecting early changes in skin through perfusion, oxygen saturation values, and pressure on tissue and subsequent therapeutic intervention could increase patients' quality of life drastically. However, most existing sensing options create additional risk of ulcer development due to further pressure on and chafing of the skin. Here, as a first component, we present a flexible, photonic textile-based sensor for the continuous monitoring of the heartbeat and blood flow. Polymer optical fibres (POFs) are melt-spun continuously and characterized optically and mechanically before being embroidered. The resulting sensor shows flexibility when embroidered into a moisture-wicking fabric, and withstands disinfec

SUBMITTER: Quandt BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5378150 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature