Development of Underwear with Integrated 12 Channel ECG for Men and Women

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Cases of cardiac arrest can often be attributed to undetected cardiac arrhythmia. Detecting rare episodes of arrhythmia necessitates long-term ECG measurements along days or weeks. However, due to the relatively small number of electrodes used for these ECGs, abnormal episodes can still go unrecognized. This article thus describes the development of underwear with ten inbuilt textile ECG electrodes, allowing for the measurement of long-term 12-lead ECG. As against the constructs of other research groups, the position of electrodes offers the same detection directions as the common 12-lead ECG equipment in hospitals or medical practices. Long-term tests have shown the suitability of the sensory underwear variants for men and women to detect reliable ECG signals without disturbing the patients’ comfort.

Keywords

• sensory shirt
• 12-lead ecg
• textile electrodes
• pattern construction
• conductive paths