Silicone-based wearable tech helps diabetic patients

The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research is to present its wearable and flexible technology for medical devices at the IDTechEX event in Santa Clara

Fraunhofer will present its dielectric elastomer sensors (DES) at the show which can be integrated into woven or knitted textiles by bonding or sewing and can be used to monitor diabetic patients.

DES consists of an elastomer film coated with highly flexible electrodes on both sides. By patterning the electrodes on the elastomer film an array of many elements can be built up.

Silicone rubber is the preferred basic material for the elastomer film and through chemical cross-linking offers a broad variability of hardness.

The institute says the wearable textile has applications in preventing bedsores, localising the pressure distribution in shoes.

It can also support personal training by measuring the posture via the clothes or as an input device for game and fitness device controlling.

At the IDTechEx the institute will show a pressure stocking that protects diabetic patients against wounding via an integrated sensor system that sends a warning signal when pressure in the shoe is locally too high.

Forty very fine dielectric elastomer sensors measure compression load and distribution in the stocking. They are attached to the stocking’s sole, heel, top and ankle in order to achieve a three-dimensional reading.

If a patient stands in one spot for an extended period pressure will rise. The sensors recognise this rise and transmit the measurement signal via a conductive thread to a wireless electronic unit.

The application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip collects the measurement data from 40 capacitive sensors and the controller transmits the data wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet to advise the diabetes patient to change foot position or weight distribution.