Contactless sensors for body monitoring incorporated in textiles

Project Information

CONTEXT

Grant agreement ID: 027291

Start date 1 January 2006

End date 30 June 2008

Funded under

• Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).

Total cost € 3 713 462,00

EU contribution € 2 300 000,00

Coordinated by

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEDERLAND B.V.
Netherlands

Objective

Musculoskeletal disorders, such as low back pain and RSI, often caused from psychological stress and physiological strain, are today among the biggest health and safety problems for people world wide, leading to enormous social and economical costs. The drive for miniaturization of electronic components should enable us to surround ourselves with sensors for monitoring our surroundings and our own body. However, body-monitoring sensors today cannot be used in unobtrusive due to their shape or material properties.

The objective of the CONTEXT project is to create a system where different types of contactless sensors are incorporated into textiles to be used in continuous monitoring of individuals. For the first time contactless sensors will be developed for the purpose of measuring electromyography and electrocardiography signals. Textile integration of these sensors is a logical choice because human beings are constantly surrounded with textiles in clothing and upholsteries and also because textiles are flexible and drapeable.

The contactless sensors investigated in the CONTEXT project will consist of true textile sensor electrodes that pick up the muscle and heart electric signals and miniaturized pre-processing sensor electronics connected to a textile substrate which contains conductive yarn structures for data and power transmission. Dedicated system architecture and data processing equipment will be designed. Finally a feasibility prototype will be created in the form of a vest, containing two-dimensional sensor arrays integrated in a conductive textile substrate, capable of monitoring the muscle activity and the psychological stress state of the person wearing it.

The CONTEXT consortium contains 6 partners, two from industry, two industrial research institutes (one of them being an SME) and two universities. Each of the partners has world-class knowledge in either electronics, textiles or human movement sciences.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering › textiles
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › data science › data processing

Programme(s)

• FP6-IST - Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).

Topic(s)

• IST-2004-2.4.2 - Technologies and devices for micro/nano-scale integration

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEDERLAND B.V.

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: Boschdijk 525 ; Postbus 90050 EINDHOVEN ; Netherlands
• Total cost: No data

Participants (5)

Business Unit of TNO Built Environment and Geosciences

Netherlands

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: Van Mourik Broekmanweg 6 ; 2628 XE DELFT
• Total cost: No data

CLOTHING PLUS OY

Finland

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: JA¤MINTIE 14 ; 38700 KANKAANPA¤A¤
• Total cost: No data

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN

• EU contribution: No data
• Total cost: No data

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BERLIN

Germany

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: Strasse des 17. Juni 135 ; BERLIN
• Total cost: No data

TEXTILFORSCHUNGSINSTITUT THUERINGEN-VOGTLAND E.V.

Germany

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: ZEULENRODAER STRASSE 42 ; 07973 GREIZ
• Total cost: No data