Textile-structured electrodes for electrocardiogram

This paper reviews textile-structured electrodes, an interactive textile device, for wearable electrocardiogram (ECG), which will have a profound influence on the health-monitoring practice in the society. A brief description of human cardiac bioelectricity signal using mechanism and acquisition methods by commercial medical electrodes and textile-based electrodes, respectively, is provided. The advantages and disadvantages of these two types of electrodes are discussed. The conduction of ECG signal within the human body, through skin-electrode interface and in electrodes, is also discussed. The ECG signal is picked up usually by commercial medical electrodes, which transform ionic current into electron current from human body to electrode. For ECG recording, there are different types of electrodes available in the market. These electrodes are usually used as disposable types, utilizing hydrogel contact electrolyte and glue, which may cause skin problems in long-term usage. Therefore, textile-structured electrodes are alternative candidates for long-term usage, and wearable due to their intrinsic properties. The designing principles of textile electrodes are presented based on the performance requirements of electrodes. A new evaluation system of textile electrode is presented in the end of the paper.