Performance evaluation of sensing fabrics for monitoring physiological and biomechanical variables

Abstract—In the last few years, the smart textile area has become increasingly widespread, leading to developments in new wearable sensing systems. Truly wearable instrumented garments capable of recording behavioral and vital signals are crucial for several fields of application. Here we report on results of a careful char- acterization of the performance of innovative fabric sensors and electrodes able to acquire vital biomechanical and physiological signals, respectively. The sensing function of the fabric sensors re- lies upon newly developed strain sensors, based on rubber-carbon- coated threads, and mainly depends on the weaving topology, and the composition and deposition process of the conducting rubber- carbon mixture. Fabric sensors are used to acquire the respitrace (RT) and movement sensors (MS). Sensing features of electrodes, instead rely upon metal-based conductive threads, which are in- strumental in detecting bioelectrical signals, such as electrocar- diogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG). Fabric sensors have been tested during some specific tasks of breathing and movement activity, and results have been compared with the responses of a commercial piezoelectric sensor and an electrogoniometer, respec- tively. The performance of fabric electrodes has been investigated and compared with standard clinical electrodes.