This smart T-shirt can save lives

Imagine a shirt that tells the wearer if they are breathing properly and can identify if a person is suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma and sleep apnea.

This is what researchers at Canada’s Université Laval in Quebec have developed: a smart T-shirt that monitors respiration in real-time and works without attaching wires, electrodes or sensors to the body.

"The T-shirt is comfortable and doesn't inhibit the subject's natural movements. Our tests show that the data captured by the shirt is reliable," said lead researcher Younes Messaddeq in a paper published in the journal Sensors.

To measure breathing rate, an antennae, which senses respiratory movements, is sewn at chest level. The mechanism is made of a hollow optical fiber coated with a thin layer of silver on its inner surface. The exterior, meanwhile, is covered with polymer that protects it from various environmental elements.

Data gathered is transmitted to a smartphone or nearby computer using Bluetooth, a feature developed with the help on an engineering student.

The researchers washed the smart T-shirt 20 times with water and detergent to see if it is durable. The shirt remained in good working condition.

Most smart shirts that are currently available measure the heart rate and athletic ability. This is the first time a respiration-monitoring garment has been created and the researchers hope that this innovation can help save lives in the future. The smart T-shirt, for instance, can assist nurses in monitoring if a patient or a sleeping baby stops breathing through a smartphone app.

The product will have to undergo months of testing before finally getting FDA and Health Canada approval.