Biochemical sensing techniques compatible with integration in to textiles! Will sound interesting to textile techies. Well this is what BIOTEX Project, a specific targeted research and innovation project and a part of the sixth framework programme of the European commission is addressing.
BIOTEX is trying to integrate health monitoring tools in to textiles to bring the benefits of safety and comfort to the users. Instrumented clothes will provide remote monitoring of vital signs, diagnostics to improve early illness detection and metabolic disorder and benefits of reduction in medical social costs to the citizen.
The project aims at developing dedicated biochemical-sensing techniques compatible with integration into textile. This goal represents a complete breakthrough, which allows for the first time the monitoring of body fluids via sensors distributed on a textile substrate and performing biochemical measurements.
BIOTEX is supported by a consortium of eight educational institutes and organizations called contractors or coordinators. They include the likes of Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de microtecnique SA, Commissariat a Energie Atomique, Smartex s.r.l, University of Pisa.
The aim is to demonstrate the feasibility of functional biochemical sensors and their integration in to the textile substrate by means of sensing patches. Research is being carried out on three sensing parameters. Sweat monitoring, Infection detection through blood and blood oxygen saturation for sports and security applications.
The project aims to provide constant monitoring of vital information to patients with chronic diseases ranging from diabetes, obesity, transplanted organs and Metabolism during sports activities etc.
The goal of the project is to provide results by non-invasive techniques. Sweat samples can provide rich health related information, but it is only the sensors that can detect the same.
