CNT based electrodes (wearable & textile-based) for cardiac monitoring in long term & continuous fashion

Abstract

CVDs are now one of the leading reasons of demise all over the world, assassinating way more than 15 million people round the year. Constant and real-time gauging of cardiac activities with excellent ECG measuring techniques plays a crucial role in premature analysis and immediate treatment of these diseases. ECG is one of the best techniques to determine the heart's electrical activities and with early management of abnormal ECG, can help in the reduction in number of deaths. To achieve this, the concept of wireless ECG monitoring should be incorporated. Wireless ECG monitoring devices require sensors which are light-weight, can conform to skin comfortably and conductivity should be high. Now-a-days, this can be easily achieved by incorporating CNTs (Carbon Nanotubes) in the sensors either in the form of electrodes (or wearables) or textile- based sensors. CNTs have a lot of benefits like high electrical conductivity, good thermal stability and are cost-effective. Therefore, in this paper we discuss various SWCNT (Single Wall Carbon Nanotube) and MWCNT (Multiwall Carbon Nanotube) based ECG electrodes/wearables for realizing the above concept.