Advancements in Washable, Stretchable Electronics for Medical Wearables
Nottingham Trent University is pioneering washable, stretchable electronics for medical wearables using 4mm diameter elastomer fibres. These fibres serve as substrates for flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are helically wound and bonded to the core, allowing the electronics to stretch.
Design and Functionality
The design involves winding flexible PCBs with components facing inward, creating a helical structure that enhances flexibility and durability. Researchers Jessica Stanley and Yang Wei developed prototypes with various PCB widths and helix angles to find the optimal balance. They found that a 30° winding angle and 4mm core diameter provided the best performance, enduring thousands of stretching cycles and multiple washes. Transparent silicone tubing was used for circuits with LEDs, while solid rubber cores suited low-profile components like thermistors. Flexible cyanoacrylate adhesive was effective in bonding scenarios.
Key Findings:
- A 30° helix angle optimizes balance between stretch and durability.
- Helical strips withstood thousands of stretches and washes.
- LED and temperature-sensing strips were successfully created using this design.
Applications and Potential
This innovation opens numerous possibilities for e-textiles in healthcare and sports, integrating complex electronics into wearable fabrics. The project, in collaboration with Kymira, resulted in a patent and is detailed in a publication in Scientific Reports. This work not only defines the design but also validates the functionality and potential of advanced e-textiles.
