The conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) reacts with delustering agents such as silica in synthetic fabrics to induce a phase segregation enriching the surface to air interface with PEDOT providing sheet resistances down to 1 ohm/sq. This procedure provides a means for permanent affixation of PEDOT-PSS to the textile surface providing it stability to mechanical abrasion. PEDOT-PSS was screen printed onto a compression shirt for continuous monitoring of ECG while running on a treadmill up to a heart rate of 160 bpm. Here, we explore the effect of changing the redox potential, and the impedance of the PEDOT and the effect this has on the ECG amplitude. Impedance trends of the individual chemical components of sweat will be analyzed, and an analysis of the performance of PEDOT-PSS coated fabrics to monitoring ECG in the dry, dry with gel, wet, and underwater submersion in tap, chlorinated, and salt water will be presented. Conductive polymer coated fabrics approximately maintain the feel of the original fabrics, and could provide comfort with continuous ECG monitoring. Further, these conductive polymer coated fabrics would not induce skin irritation and may provide an alternative to ECG monitoring over prolonged periods of time and under high-sport activity.

All-organic conductive fabrics for continuous monitoring of Electrocardiogram (ECG) response

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.