Name four examples of smart textiles used for healthcare
- wearable monitoring device (life shirt)
- snow suit
- protective devices
- active release fabric
Name 4 things that prove people are more concerned/invested in healthcare.
- out-of-pocket spending of consumers for health exceed healthcare system
- health realated web searches are increasing
- the patient becomes the ‘decision maker’
- Cardio fitness classes are increasing in popularity
What is the life shirt?
- the first non-invasive continuous ambulatory monitoring system
- collects data on cardiac, pulmonary and other physiological states
Which members of society would benefit from the developments of smart/interactive textiles and clothing in healthcare?
- doctors and hospitals: when people are taking better care of themselves it means less disease and less strain on the healthcare system
- Patients: those suffered get from an illness or condition could have more freedom and less stress if it was monitored through a shirt they could wear rather than machines they were hooked up to
- the public, even if they aren’t ill, they can keep a healthy lifestyle by ministering themselves
- infants: monitoring can prevent Sudden Death Syndrome, etc
How does healthcare smart textiles support the elderly?
- monitors psychological wellbeing
- avoid injury (garments can activate cushioning if loss of balance is detected as functional carpets detect position
- Help, automatic alarm transmitted if health incident occurs
—% of what a soldier touches is under the form of a textile
-70%
What 3 areas can smart textiles be used in in defence?
- camouflage (dynamic colour change according to surroundings)
- protection (against bullets, shrapnel, flames, etc)
- remote health monitoring
Explain how responsive camouflage works
- a mini, portable spectrometer is mounted into the uniform
- average colour coordinates of the surroundings measured
- colour tuneable fibres in the uniform adapt to the colours of the environment
What are the requirements of PPE (personal protective clothing) determined by?
-vary according to activity, environment and type of risks faced
Name some examples of where PPE can be used in.
- sports car racing
- workplace hazards (chemical, nuclear, etc)
- first responders (police, firefighters, medics)
How does water circulation clothing used for?
Used for an extremely warm to cool environment
Explain how heat-storage and thermo-regulated clothing worked
- hollow fibres are filled with inorganic salt and PEG have heat absorbing and releasing characteristics
- fabrics coated with PEG, polyhydric alcohols, a binder containing microcapsules, etc.
What are some properties of Kevlar and Nomex?
- high thermal resistance
- high chemical resistance
- high tensile strength
- high cut resistance
What is Prylanit?
A flame resistant fibre based on acrylic fibres
What is zylon?
- high tensile modulus
- very high resistance to heat
What are the 4 primary components in threat response and protection in PPE garments?
- Sense (sensors)
- Diagnose (threat analysis system)
- Inform (communication system)
- Treat (treatment support system)
