Polymer-Based Dry Electrode System for Physiological Monitoring

Physiological monitoring through biopotential signals such as Electrocardiography (ECG), Electromyography (EMG), Electroencephalography (EEG), and Electrooculography (EOG) plays a vital role in healthcare by providing essential insights into cardiovascular and neurological health. Traditional ECG monitoring mainly depends on silver-silver chloride-based hydrogel electrodes. However, these electrodes have several limitations, including gel drying over time, skin irritation, noise interference, and signal degradation during extended monitoring or physical activity. This has created a need for alternative electrode systems. To address these challenges, we have based our research on a polymer-based, non-tacky dry electrode system designed to provide reliable ECG signal acquisition both at rest and during motion of the monitored person. We developed a dry electrode system that can be used as standalone films (Gen.1). This system can be integrated onto fabric, which can be coated onto a fabric (Gen. 2), or onto yarn (Gen. 3). We also examined the electrode’s durability, including washability, stretchability, and abrasion resistance, and are currently focusing on transitioning from patch-based sensors to coated yarns and their integration into textiles. We have also filed a patent for the E-textile (Gen. 2).

Structural Health Monitoring