Researchers at Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, have created what they call an “intelligent t-shirt”, which monitors body functions and provides the data for analysis.

The fabric of the-t-shirt integrates electrodes that record bioelectric power, and there is a thermometer and an accelerometer as well as a periodically active localization device that is used to determine the position of a user. The researchers say that the t-shirt can monitor body-temperature, provide data for an electrocardiogram, measures the physical activity of a body as well as a relative position of a body – whether a person is reclining, standing or lying down.

The scientists believe that the shirts could be used in hospital environments or telemedicine, but they also see use in other areas, such as sports where the shirts could provide early diagnosis of cardiac anomalies in athletes. All information is stored in a information management system, where it can be accessed for analysis. For example, physicians could examine how a particular patient’s level of physical activity affects the quality of the electrocardiogram.

So far, only a prototype of the technology exists. There was no information when these shirts could be available for purchase.

SOURCE via UC3M