Advanced e-textiles for wearable therapeutics

E-textiles are advanced textiles that include electronic functionality such as conductive tracks to sensing/actuating, communications and microprocessing. The emergence of advanced e-textiles offers opportunities for the self-management of health conditions with tangible benefits for the individual and healthcare providers. E-textiles can be used in many healthcare applications such as health monitoring (e.g. electrocardiogram (ECG) and Electroencephalography (EEG)) and treatment (e.g. pain relief, rehabilitation). The applicant and her team have developed a novel platform manufacturing method that enables the packaging of electronic components (e.g. microcontrollers, sensors) in ultra-thin die form that can be hidden within textile yarns. The team has also developed a patented dry fabric electrode technology using novel materials and fabrication methods for wearable medical devices offering the competitive advantages of comfort (no gel needed), ease of use, unobtrusive implementation, and being washable. The combination of these two technologies will enable wearable healthcare with improved user experience (e.g. comfort, unobtrusive, independent use) and improved compliance with treatment requirements. The project will enable the Fellowship applicant to lead a multi-disciplinary team to address the fundamental underlying research challenges of integration and durability to enable the e-textile technology to progress from the research laboratory towards real world applications and improve options for healthcare provision. The application of the advanced e-textile technology will be demonstrated through a wearable therapeutic clothing item for pain relief of osteoarthritis which is an age related disease affecting 8.75 million people in the UK. The collaboration with industrial partners and the engagement with project advisors (e.g. healthcare professionals and patient and public involvement representatives), end users and other key stakeholders will ensure industry/clinical relevance and establish collaborations for the follow on exploitation of the technology.