2A2_0564_ PHOTODIODE AND LED EMBEDDED TEXTILES FOR WEARABLE HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This work presents a novel approach to embed miniature photodiodes (PDs) within the core of a textile yarn for wearable applications such as heart rate monitoring. These PD embedded E-yarns (PDEY) can be readily woven, knitted or embroidered into a comfortable, conformal, aesthetically pleasing, and washable fabric; this would overcome the challenges that many other electronic textiles currently face. The PDEYs exhibited an optoelectronic output comparative to free-standing PDs. PDEYs along with LED embedded yarns (LEDEY) were integrated into a knitted finger cuff to demonstrate a wearable PPG (photoplethysmography) heart rate monitoring device.