A wearable health care system based on knitted integrated sensors
01 Sep 2005-Vol. 9, Iss: 3, pp 337-344
TL;DR: Results show that the information contained in the signals obtained by the integrated systems is comparable with that obtained by standard sensors.
Abstract: A comfortable health monitoring system named WEALTHY is presented. The system is based on a textile wearable interface implemented by integrating sensors, electrodes, and connections in fabric form, advanced signal processing techniques, and modern telecommunication systems. Sensors, electrodes and connections are realized with conductive and piezoresistive yarns. The sensorized knitted fabric is produced in a one step process. The purpose of this paper is to show the feasibility of a system based on fabric sensing elements. The capability of this system to acquire simultaneously several biomedical signals (i.e. electrocardiogram, respiration, activity) has been investigated and compared with a standard monitoring system. Furthermore, the paper presents two different methodologies for the acquisition of the respiratory signal with textile sensors. Results show that the information contained in the signals obtained by the integrated systems is comparable with that obtained by standard sensors. The proposed system is designed to monitor individuals affected by cardiovascular diseases, in particular during the rehabilitation phase. The system can also help professional workers who are subject to considerable physical and psychological stress and/or environmental and professional health risks.
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01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: A variety of system implementations are compared in an approach to identify the technological shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art in wearable biosensor solutions and evaluate the maturity level of the top current achievements in wearable health-monitoring systems.
Abstract: The design and development of wearable biosensor systems for health monitoring has garnered lots of attention in the scientific community and the industry during the last years. Mainly motivated by increasing healthcare costs and propelled by recent technological advances in miniature biosensing devices, smart textiles, microelectronics, and wireless communications, the continuous advance of wearable sensor-based systems will potentially transform the future of healthcare by enabling proactive personal health management and ubiquitous monitoring of a patient's health condition. These systems can comprise various types of small physiological sensors, transmission modules and processing capabilities, and can thus facilitate low-cost wearable unobtrusive solutions for continuous all-day and any-place health, mental and activity status monitoring. This paper attempts to comprehensively review the current research and development on wearable biosensor systems for health monitoring. A variety of system implementations are compared in an approach to identify the technological shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art in wearable biosensor solutions. An emphasis is given to multiparameter physiological sensing system designs, providing reliable vital signs measurements and incorporating real-time decision support for early detection of symptoms or context awareness. In order to evaluate the maturity level of the top current achievements in wearable health-monitoring systems, a set of significant features, that best describe the functionality and the characteristics of the systems, has been selected to derive a thorough study. The aim of this survey is not to criticize, but to serve as a reference for researchers and developers in this scientific area and to provide direction for future research improvements.
2,051 citations
TL;DR: The emergence of `ambient-assisted living’ (AAL) tools for older adults based on ambient intelligence paradigm is summarized and the state-of-the-art AAL technologies, tools, and techniques are summarized.
Abstract: In recent years, we have witnessed a rapid surge in assisted living technologies due to a rapidly aging society. The aging population, the increasing cost of formal health care, the caregiver burden, and the importance that the individuals place on living independently, all motivate development of innovative-assisted living technologies for safe and independent aging. In this survey, we will summarize the emergence of `ambient-assisted living” (AAL) tools for older adults based on ambient intelligence paradigm. We will summarize the state-of-the-art AAL technologies, tools, and techniques, and we will look at current and future challenges.
1,000 citations
Additional excerpts
...WEALTHY [141], BIOTEX [142], and MagIC [143] are examples of e-textile projects....
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...WEALTHY [141], BIOTEX [142], and MagIC [143]...
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TL;DR: It is proposed that this requires a transition from the clinic-centric treatment to patient-centric healthcare where each agent such as hospital, patient, and services are seamlessly connected to each other, and needs a multi-layer architecture.
725 citations
Cites background from "A wearable health care system based..."
...This includes ECG/EKG monitor [50], [51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58], [59], [60], [61], heart rate monitor [62], [63], glucose monitor [64], [65], [66], blood pressure monitor [67], [68], [69], body temperature monitor [70], pulse oximeter [71], hemoglobin monitor [72], activity monitor [73], smart shoes [74], smart garments or e-textiles [75], [76], [77], sleep monitor [78], knee sensor [79], skin...
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TL;DR: One major application in pervasive healthcare, termed comprehensive health monitoring is presented in significant details using wireless networking solutions of wireless LANs, ad hoc wireless networks, and, cellular/GSM/3G infrastructure-oriented networks.
Abstract: With an increasingly mobile society and the worldwide deployment of mobile and wireless networks, the wireless infrastructure can support many current and emerging healthcare applications. This could fulfill the vision of "Pervasive Healthcare" or healthcare to anyone, anytime, and anywhere by removing locational, time and other restraints while increasing both the coverage and the quality. In this paper, we present applications and requirements of pervasive healthcare, wireless networking solutions and several important research problems. The pervasive healthcare applications include pervasive health monitoring, intelligent emergency management system, pervasive health-care data access, and ubiquitous mobile telemedicine. One major application in pervasive healthcare, termed comprehensive health monitoring is presented in significant details using wireless networking solutions of wireless LANs, ad hoc wireless networks, and, cellular/GSM/3G infrastructure-oriented networks. Many interesting challenges of comprehensive wireless health monitoring, including context-awareness, reliability, and, autonomous and adaptable operation are also presented along with several high-level solutions. Several interesting research problems have been identified and presented for future research.
704 citations
Cites background from "A wearable health care system based..."
...This can also have an embedded short-range wireless system for transferring signals to a PDA or mobile phone [71]....
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TL;DR: This paper aims to provide an overview of four emerging unobtrusive and wearable technologies, which are essential to the realization of pervasive health information acquisition, including: 1) unobTrusive sensing methods, 2) smart textile technology, 3) flexible-stretchable-printable electronics, and 4) sensor fusion.
Abstract: The aging population, prevalence of chronic diseases, and outbreaks of infectious diseases are some of the major challenges of our present-day society. To address these unmet healthcare needs, especially for the early prediction and treatment of major diseases, health informatics, which deals with the acquisition, transmission, processing, storage, retrieval, and use of health information, has emerged as an active area of interdisciplinary research. In particular, acquisition of health-related information by unobtrusive sensing and wearable technologies is considered as a cornerstone in health informatics. Sensors can be weaved or integrated into clothing, accessories, and the living environment, such that health information can be acquired seamlessly and pervasively in daily living. Sensors can even be designed as stick-on electronic tattoos or directly printed onto human skin to enable long-term health monitoring. This paper aims to provide an overview of four emerging unobtrusive and wearable technologies, which are essential to the realization of pervasive health information acquisition, including: 1) unobtrusive sensing methods, 2) smart textile technology, 3) flexible-stretchable-printable electronics, and 4) sensor fusion, and then to identify some future directions of research.
647 citations
Cites background or methods from "A wearable health care system based..."
...(a) Georgia Tech Wearable Motherboard (Smart Shirt) for the measurement of ECG, heart rate, body temperature, and respiration rate [105]; (b) the EKG Shirt system that used interconnection technology based on embroidery of conductive yarn for heart rate [106]; (c) the LifeShirt system for the measurement of ECG, heart rate, posture and activity, respiration parameters, BP (peripheral is needed), temperature, SpO2 [107]; (d) the ProTEX garment for the measurement of heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature, SpO2 , position, activity, and posture [108]; (e) the WEALTHY system with knitted integrated sensors for the measurement of ECG, heart rate, respiration, and activity monitoring [44]; (f) the VTAMN system for the measurement of heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature, and activity [109]; (g) the h-Shirt system for the measurement of ECG, PPG, heart rate, and BP [55]....
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...Flexible and thin sensors, such as piezoresistive fabric sensors [44] and film-type sensors like polyvinylidenefluoride film (PVDF) and electrome-...
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References
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16,221 citations
TL;DR: A real-time algorithm that reliably recognizes QRS complexes based upon digital analyses of slope, amplitude, and width of ECG signals and automatically adjusts thresholds and parameters periodically to adapt to such ECG changes as QRS morphology and heart rate.
Abstract: We have developed a real-time algorithm for detection of the QRS complexes of ECG signals. It reliably recognizes QRS complexes based upon digital analyses of slope, amplitude, and width. A special digital bandpass filter reduces false detections caused by the various types of interference present in ECG signals. This filtering permits use of low thresholds, thereby increasing detection sensitivity. The algorithm automatically adjusts thresholds and parameters periodically to adapt to such ECG changes as QRS morphology and heart rate. For the standard 24 h MIT/BIH arrhythmia database, this algorithm correctly detects 99.3 percent of the QRS complexes.
6,686 citations
"A wearable health care system based..." refers background in this paper
...Professional personnel at risk (working alone, or working in a dangerous 1089-7771/$20.00 © 2005 IEEE environment), subject to physical and physiological stress, can also be assisted during their performance without any impediment to their activity....
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TL;DR: The development of the Wearable Motherboard/spl trade/ (Smart Shirt) as a platform for sensors and monitoring devices that can unobtrusively monitor the health and well being of individuals (directly and/or remotely) is described.
Abstract: An overview of the key challenges facing the practice of medicine today is presented along with the need for technological solutions that can "prevent" problems. Then, the development of the Wearable Motherboard/spl trade/ (Smart Shirt) as a platform for sensors and monitoring devices that can unobtrusively monitor the health and well being of individuals (directly and/or remotely) is described. This is followed by a discussion of the applications and impact of this technology in the continuum of life-from preventing SIDS to facilitating independent living for senior citizens. Finally, the future advancements in the area of wearable, yet comfortable, systems that can continue the transformation of healthcare - all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for humans - are presented.
611 citations
Patent•
17 Apr 2001TL;DR: In this paper, an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameter reflecting the function of other organ systems, was designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual's normal daily activities.
Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of ambulatory and non-invasive monitoring of a plurality of physiological parameters of a monitored individual. The invention includes a physiological monitoring apparatus with an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function, or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameters reflecting the function of other organ systems, and the apparel being designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual's normal daily activities. The apparel is preferably also suitable for athletic activities. The sensors preferably include one or more ECG leads and one of more inductive plethysmographic sensors with conductive loops positioned closely to the individual to preferably monitor at least basic cardiac parameters, basic pulmonary parameters, or both. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The invention also includes systems comprising a central data repository for receiving, storing, and processing data generated by a plurality of physiological monitored apparatus, and for making stored data available to the individual and to the health care providers.
571 citations