Smart Textile Using Embroidered Cu-Zn-Coated Aramid Threads for ECG Monitoring

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Continuous cardiac health and ECG monitoring. Intervention: Smart textile ECG monitoring garment with embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads vs. Conventional adhesive gel electrodes. Primary outcome: ECG signal quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

A smart textile ECG monitoring garment using embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads achieves 90–95% signal quality compared to conventional gel electrodes, with an electrode resistance of 10–20 Ω and an SNR of 15–25 dB. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Maham Sajjad; Muhammad Uzair Shokat; Xinwang Cao

doi:10.64820/aepjeer.32.1.6.122026

October 17, 2026Journal of Electrical and Electronics ResearchOpen Access

Smart Textile Using Embroidered Cu-Zn-Coated Aramid Threads for ECG Monitoring

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Smart textile ECG garment achieves ~93% signal quality compared to conventional gel electrodes.

Why the study?

This study was conducted to design and evaluate a smart textile ECG monitoring garment using embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads for continuous, comfortable, and reusable cardiac health tracking.

Does a smart textile ECG garment using embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads provide comparable ECG signal quality and improved comfort compared to conventional gel electrodes?

Key Points

To develop and evaluate a washable smart textile garment featuring embroidered conductive thread dry electrodes for continuous, comfortable, and gel-free cardiac monitoring.
Embroidered 3 cm diameter dry electrodes onto polyester-cotton knitted fabric using Cu-Zn-coated aramid conductive threads, backed with a thin polyethylene sheet for moisture protection.
Interfaced the electrodes with an AD8232 analog front end and an ESP32 microcontroller operating at a 250 Hz sampling rate for wireless ECG transmission.
Evaluated electrode resistance, durability over 20 or more wear cycles, washability across 10 cycles, air permeability under 100 Pa pressure, and human signal acquisition.
Dry textile electrodes achieved an electrical resistance of 10–20 Ω and preserved structural and electrical function through 10 wash cycles, exhibiting only minor fraying after 20 or more wear cycles.
The system recorded clear PQRST waveforms at resting heart rates of 60–80 bpm within 30 seconds of wear, yielding a signal-to-noise ratio of 15–25 dB and 90–95% signal quality compared to gel electrodes.
Air permeability measured 400 L/m²/s in the base fabric, 350 L/m²/s after embroidery, and 80 L/m²/s in sections lined with the protective polyethylene backing layer.

Structured PICO

Does a smart textile ECG garment using embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads provide comparable ECG signal quality and improved comfort compared to conventional gel electrodes?

P

Population

Human test subjects in resting and mildly active conditions (exact sample size and demographics not stated)

I

Intervention

Smart textile ECG monitoring garment utilizing three 3 cm x 3 cm embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid conductive thread dry electrodes on polyester-cotton knitted fabric, backed by a lightweight polyethylene sheet and connected to a wireless ECG sensing unit (AD8232 analog front end and ESP32 microcontroller)

C

Comparator

Conventional adhesive gel electrodes

O

Outcome

ECG signal quality (PQRST waveform capture and signal-to-noise ratio at 250 Hz sampling rate) and electrical resistancesurrogate

A smart textile garment with embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid dry electrodes and a protective polyethylene layer achieves 90–95% of the ECG signal quality of traditional gel electrodes while remaining washable up to 10 cycles and improving wearer comfort.

Limitations

Evaluation was conducted only under resting and mild-activity conditions without extensive investigation of strong motion.
Small and unspecified number of test subjects.
Washability assessment was limited to 10 hand-wash and air-dry cycles.
The protective polyethylene backing layer substantially reduced air permeability from 400 L/m²/s to 80 L/m²/s in covered areas.
Evaluation was conducted under resting and mild-activity conditions, while stronger motion conditions (walking, running, bending) were not extensively investigated.
Small sample size (a larger number of participants is needed for more representative information).
Washability assessment was limited to repeated hand-wash and air-dry cycles for up to 10 washing cycles.
The polyethylene protective layer substantially reduced air permeability in the covered region (from 400 L/m²/s to 80 L/m²/s).
The study did not evaluate the impact of the polyethylene backing layer on long-term comfort.

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Supports feasibility of reusable textile ECG for resting use; hypothesis-generating pending ambulatory validation.

Abstract

This study presents the design and evaluation of a smart textile ECG monitoring garment developed for continuous, comfortable, and reusable cardiac health tracking. The system incorporates Cu-Zn-coated aramid conductive threads embroidered onto a polyester-cotton knitted fabric to form dry textile electrodes, which are connected to a wireless ECG sensing unit based on the AD8232 analog front end and an ESP32 microcontroller for real-time signal transmission. A lightweight polyethylene sheet was integrated beneath the electrodes and circuitry to provide water and sweat resistance without significantly compromising comfort. Characterization tests showed low electrode resistance (10–20 Ω), washability up to 10 cycles, and good mechanical durability. The device captured clear PQRST waveforms at a 250 Hz sampling rate with a signal-to-noise ratio of 15–25 dB, achieving 90–95% signal quality compared to gel electrodes under resting conditions. Air permeability decreased slightly with embroidery and more significantly in polyethylene-backed regions, though the garment remained wearable and breathable. User testing confirmed accurate heart rate detection and high comfort, with ECG signals stabilizing within 30 seconds of wear. These findings demonstrate that the smart textile ECG garment is a viable, comfortable, and reusable alternative to conventional systems, suitable for long-term and home-based cardiac monitoring applications.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Sajjad et al. (2026) studied Continuous cardiac health and ECG monitoring. Smart textile ECG monitoring garment with embroidered Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads vs. Conventional adhesive gel electrodes was evaluated on ECG signal quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The smart textile ECG garment with Cu-Zn-coated aramid threads achieved 90-95% signal quality compared to gel electrodes with a 15-25 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 10-20 Ω electrode resistance.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ae28e75cbadf70daf6c428f https://doi.org/10.64820/aepjeer.32.1.6.122026

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Smart Textile Using Embroidered Cu-Zn-Coated Aramid Threads for ECG Monitoring

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Smart Textile Using Embroidered Cu-Zn-Coated Aramid Threads for ECG Monitoring

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading