Say goodbye to chest straps, smartwatches, or mobile apps to monitor your heart rate. This new technology introduces a simple t-shirt that can monitor accurate heart rates. Lauren Taylor, a graduate of Rice University, is one of the team members that innovated the t-shirt with integrated carbon nanotube thread. An entire lab team from Rice University has come up with an incredible idea to provide people with functional apparel that monitors their health.
You no longer have to carry those bulky chest straps connected to small digital monitors. Or buy those expensive smartwatches that cost an arm and a leg to monitor your heart rate. By wearing a simple t-shirt, you can rest assured your heart rate is being monitored accurately.
The Brown School of Engineering lab report shows that experts from Rice University sewed nanotube fibers into athletic apparel. This shirt provides two functions. One is to monitor the person’s heart rate, and the second is to take a continuous EKG or electrocardiogram of the person wearing the athletic wear.
Functional and washable
People may think that the shirt might not be washable after integrating small-scale electronics. However, the fibers sewn in the athletic wear are, without a doubt, washable. Moreover, it’s also extremely comfortable to wear, even when the person is always on the go.
Whether training for a sports competition or doing workout routines at the gym, this t-shirt is just as efficient as the other heart rate monitoring devices. Researchers claim that this smart t-shirt even takes more accurate EKGs than the chest strap monitors.
According to the lead author of this experiment Lauren Taylor, the wearer has to ensure that the shirt is snug. Taylor also said that they’re going to use denser carbon nanotube thread patches in the future. That way, there’s more room to breathe and a larger surface area for the skin to get in contact with.
Comfortable, active apparel by Rice University
Rice University experts assure that this smart t-shirt doesn’t impede your day-to-day activities due to the soft and flexible nanotube fibers. These fibers can be sewn into a material similar to that of an ordinary thread.
Furthermore, the zigzag stitching pattern is also one of the reasons why the fabric provides a comfortable stretch without breaking the fibers. It works when the skin is in contact with the fibers, and certain electrodes then connect electronics such as Bluetooth technology to relay the data to your mobile phone.
These nanotube fibers were introduced in 2013. These fibers were experimented to use in cochlear implants or methods to repair damaged hearts.
Taylor also said that the original nanotube fibers are around 22 microns in width, making them too thin for a sewing machine. The team devised a rope-maker to think of a sewable thread, creating three bunches of seven filaments each. These are then woven into an acceptable size similar to a regular thread for the sewing machine.
Taylor tried to weave the thread manually, but to no avail. She claimed they worked with someone who sells machines that create ropes for model ships.
Additionally, Taylor and her team are collaborating with Dr. Mehdi Razavi at the Texas Heart Institute to maximize skin contact. This is to ensure that the smart t-shirt gives accurate heart rate monitoring and EKGs every time people wear it.
