Diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s … People with these pathologies will have the opportunity to be protected by their shirts or pajamas.
Indeed, clothes made from an intelligent textile will be able to send medical information by WIFI to an emergency center or to a doctor.
To obtain this fiber, the researchers superimposed several layers of materials: copper, a polymer (polyimide), glass and silver. “It is both strong and malleable and you can weave it with wool or cotton,” he says. In addition, the quality of the signal it produces is comparable to that of commercial antennas. “
“The fiber we have developed acts both as a sensor and as an antenna,” explains Younès Messaddeq of the Center for Photonic and Laser Optics at the University of Laval. “In theory, we can modify the surface of the fiber so that it picks up information about the glucose level, heart rate, brain activity, movements, spatial coordinates, or whatever. Each fiber would have its own function ”explains the researcher.
To commercialize this fiber, scientists still need to do some research. “This fiber will have to be connected to a wireless network and the issue of power supply will have to be resolved,” admits Professor Messaddeq. “We have already tested solutions and the results are encouraging.”
