Knitted bioclothes for cardiopulmonary monitoring

Abstract

A new concept in healthcare, aimed to provide continuous remote monitoring of user vital signs, is emerging. An innovative system named WEALTHY is presented, where conducting and piezoresistive materials in form of fiber and yarn are integrated and used as sensor and electrode elements. The simultaneous recording of vital signs allows parameters' extrapolation and inter-signal elaboration that contribute to produce alert messages and synoptic patient table. The system will assist cardiac patients during rehabilitation, not only by caring physicians to have an accurate description of clinical status of the patient at fixed and repeated time points in order to tailor the best medical treatment for long term care, but will also allow the patient to be continuously followed during selected time intervals, such as during physical activity or occurrence of symptoms, to discover potential threats and generate appropriate alerts to patient, physician or emergency medical systems.