Textronics Inc., a Wilmington, Del.-based developer of wearable sensors for health and fitness monitoring, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its ECG electrode for use in general electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and recording applications.

The company reports its textile-based technology — offered in a range of products including various sensor components based on conductive materials, elastomeric polymers and flexible substrates; and the Numetrex line of heart-rate-monitoring apparel for fitness and sports activities — is more comfortable to wear than traditional components such as metal wristbands and adhesive electrodes that are used with most standard ECG instruments available today. The elastomeric fabrics knitted using Textronics’ technology also are machine-washable and reusable.

“Our textile electrodes can be worn comfortably against the skin, as part of a seamless garment, fabric chest strap or elastic wrist band,” said Stacey Burr, CEO, Textronics. “We’re offering the medical community a more comfortable and less cumbersome solution that can improve patient compliance by eliminating skin irritation and other discomforts that are commonly experienced during ECG monitoring, especially in extended wear applications.”

According to Textronics, technology applications include cardiac-event recording, Holter monitoring, respiration sensing, stress testing and trans-telephonic pacemaker monitoring.

February 26, 2008