Dedicated Wearable Sensitive Strain Sensor, Based on Carbon Nanotubes, for Monitoring the Rat Respiration Rate †

Abstract

This paper presents a highly sensitive and novel wearable strain sensor using one-dimensional material for monitoring the respiration rate of an anesthetized rat. The dedicated sensitive sensor, based on carbon nanotubes mixed with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, was attached above the rat chest. A Wheatstone bridge electrical circuit, associated with a multifunction portable device, was connected to the strain sensor. The change of the strain sensor’s resistance value, induced by the mechanical deformability during the rat respiration, was detected and transformed into a voltage signal. The respiration information could be thus extracted and analyzed.