Bio-sensing Textiles for Real-time Chemical Analysis of Body Fluids

A wearable fluid handling platform based on polyamide lycra has been developed for non-invasive, real-time biochemical analysis of bodily fluids. Main challenges include sample collection and delivery, sensor integration and waste sample handling. The system is able to collect sweat as it is expired through the skin and transports it through a channel defined in the fabric using a hydrophobic membrane. A superabsorbent material is placed at the end of the channel to provide continuous sample delivery and storage. A colorimetric sensor is fabricated directly on the textile channel to determine the changes in sweat pH. This is coupled with a wireless optical sensor integrated into the cover of the fluidic platform to measure colour change. Sodium and conductivity sensors have also been developed. This textile based sensing system has applications in personal health and for the analysis of sports performance and training.