A knitted garment using intarsia technique for Heart Rate Variability biofeedback: Evaluation of initial prototype

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Textile Science
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback is effective but can be hindered by user stress from conventional equipment.
• Wearable systems offer a more intuitive and user-friendly approach to biofeedback interventions.
• Reducing stress associated with measurement devices is key to improving HRV biofeedback efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel knitted garment prototype for HRV biofeedback.
• To assess the feasibility of integrating Electrocardiogram (ECG) and thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) into a textile-based system.
• To explore the use of intarsia technique and conductive yarn for simplified and cost-effective textile production.

Main Methods:

• Development of a knitted garment using the intarsia technique with conductive yarn.
• Integration of sensors for Electrocardiogram (ECG) and thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) monitoring.
• Evaluation of the garment's quality for respiration monitoring within an HRV biofeedback context.

Main Results:

• The knitted garment prototype demonstrated satisfactory quality for ECG and TEB measurements.
• The intarsia technique and conductive yarn integration proved effective for sensor connections.
• The textile-based approach reduces complexity and potential cost in commercial production.

Conclusions:

• A knitted garment prototype for HRV biofeedback has been successfully developed and evaluated.
• The wearable system shows promise for reducing user stress and improving the usability of HRV biofeedback.
• Further development and evaluation of the garment and associated Android application are ongoing.