1. TecInTex:
Technology Integration into Textiles:
Empowering Health
Gerhard Tröster

2. Structure
• Partners
– ETH Zürich (G. Tröster: Electronics Lab)
– EMPA St Gallen, Dübendorf (R.Rossi, M.Heuberger, F.
Clemens)
– CSEM Neuchatel (S.Pasche, J. Luprano)
– University Hospital Zurich (M. Wolf)
– Paraplegic Center Nottwil (U.Baumberger)
– industrial partners
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 2/1

3. Mission of TecInTex:
Provide the core modules to design and to manufacture
sensing and acting textiles
From fibres to clothes to people
Fibres Fabrics Clothes
Evaluation
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 3/1

4. ‚Healthcare Demonstrators‘
• NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy)
in socks images O2 enough O2
– Early detection and lack of O2
Detector
treatment of peripheral
vascular disease (PVD) Light
Source
• ‚Intelligent‘ underwear for paraplegic people to prevent and
to treat ulcer
High decubitus risk
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 4/1

5. Highlights
• Fibers e & o
– protection
– insulation
– sensing
• Woven electronics
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 5/1

6. PU coatings of silver fibres
2.5
coating thickness (microns)
2
Coating Thickness-
1.5 Coatings thicker than 2
2.5 to 3 microns microns have
1 resistance > 1 MΩ
0.5
Resistance (Ω/cm)
0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 6/1

7. Layer-by-Layer Coating
+
Primer Polyanhydride Polyamine Activated
Fatty Acid
PVAm,(protective)
PEI
Silver Gantrez
PVAm
(protective)
Silver pure ( corroded)
PEI
Silver PScMAA
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 7/1

8. Piezoresistive strain sensor fiber
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 8/1

9. Tensile Test
Cyclic tensile (ε= 13-30%) test on woven elastic band (L0= 25mm)
with 2 integrated piezoresistive sensor fibres
0.7 30
0.5 25
0.3 20
Resistance [kΩ]
Force [N]
0.1 15
13
-0.1 10
11 Relaxation
-0.3 5 of 2nd cycle:
1%
9
-0.5 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Force Resistance Time [s] 7
5
100 150 200 250
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 9/1

10. O-Fiber: Polymeric Optical Fibers (POF)
• Glas PMMA Poly(methyl methacrylate) too brittle and too
thick ( > 250μm)
therapy lighting
POF
sensing
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 10/1

11. Melt-Spinning Equipment for Bi-component Fiber
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 11/1

12. First Bi-component Fiber
Oct/Nov 2010 Dec 2010
Light attenuation: 47 dB/m Light attenuation: <10dB/m
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 12/1

13. Biosensing using optical Fibers
• Monitoring of pH and protease activity in chronical wounds
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 13/1

14. Principle
• Sensing layer around the fiber: sol-gel
• pH dyes, change in light absorbance
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 14/1

15. Flexible polymer optical fibers (POF) for biosensing
Sol-gel coated POF
150 µm polymer fiber
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 15/1

16. E-Stripes: Thin film technology into textiles
• Planar thinfilm technology
– Sensors
– Transistors
– Integrated circuits
• Small (< 0.5mm) stripes woven into
textiles
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 16/1

17. Weaving Machine
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 17/1

18. Mechanical strain during Weaving
R = 165µm
Electronic fiber 200µm
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 18/1

19. IGZO-TFTs : bendable ?
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 19/1

20. VDD In
Out
Amplifier
Rf TFT
Out
Rl
Rf
In TFT
GND VDD
1 mm
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 20/1

21. CO Sensor Polyanaline based
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 21/1

22. Challenges
• Adaptation to industrial manufacturing processes
• Design of the demonstrator
– clinical environment
– biocompatibility approval
– ethics
May 13, 2011 G. Tröster 22/1