WEARPLEX Gamma Webinar - Video and Presentations

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Demonstration of WEARPLEX e-textiles printing, development, and testing

Abiodun Komolafe

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Demonstration of WEARPLEX EMG recording system

Luis Pelaez Murciego

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Information and demonstration of the WEARPLEX screen printed OECT technology

Peter Andersson Ersman

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Demonstration of WEARPLEX Stimulation testbed

Milos Kostic

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Demonstration of WEARPLEX Gamma electrode systems

Matija Strbac

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Future reduced Graphene ink developments

Azadeh Motealleh

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Future wearable bio potential applications

Katja Junker

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E-textile device manufacturing

Jenni Isotalo

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Partner

Presenter

Introduction to EU-H2020 project WEARPLEX: Wearable multiplexed biomedical electrodes

UoS

Russel Torah

This presentation introduces the key concepts behind the WEARPLEX project, the consortium members, and their development roles within the project.  It introduced the state of the art technologies involved and how the project intends to go beyond this.  Details were also provided of how to get involved in the project and our social media and website links.

Link: Here

EMG recording applications

AAU

Strahinja Dosen

The presentation introduced the application of WEARPLEX technology to the recording of multichannel electromyography (EMG). First, the concept of multichannel EMG was explained and how multichannel EMG can be combined with machine learning (pattern classification) to estimate user movement intention. Several applications of EMG-based control were highlighted, from controlling assistive systems (prostheses and exoskeletons) to general-purpose human machine interfacing (consumer electronics, collaborative robotics and VR/AR). State of the art systems for EMG-based control using gesture recognition have been briefly presented, and the advantage of the WEARPLEX approach has been explained (textile-based dry multichannel solution). The progress achieved during the project was then summarized, showing the evolution from a bulky initial system using state of the art technology (“wet” electrodes, extensive cabling) to a compact solution based on a textile sleave and a wireless amplifier. 

Link: Here

Electronic ink developments

BCM

Nikola Perinka

This presentation described the developments at BCMaterials in terms of the ink development specifically for biomonitoring applications. Some of these developments were also done in collaboration with project partner LayerOne who specialize in reduced Graphene Oxide synthesis for new conductive inks.  Advanced biomonitoring applications require development of new inks with tailored functional properties, such as high electronic/ionic conductivity, biocompatibility, and flexibility/stretchability. Within WEARPLEX, BCMaterials has developed different kinds of inks, from dielectric to semiconducting inks and magnetic inks. Some of these inks have also been developed in accordance with specific project-related requirements, such as biocompatibility for applications in contact with human skin, as well as the green approach to comply with sustainability aspects of the future fabrication processes. The most directly relevant inks for the WEARPLEX project were described in this presentation.

Link: Here

Printed Electronics on textiles and circuit integration

UoS

Abiodun Komolafe

This presentation gave a brief overview of the integration methods employed at the University of Southampton to incorporate electronic functionality into textiles. The use of screen printing to functionalize textiles with conductive inks to make e-textile devices such as the wearable electrodes in WEARPLEX was discussed and other example e-textile prototype devices that had been fabricated with this technology. The importance of the primer/interface layer technology developed at UoS to smooth the surface of the textile was also discussed as it enables the fabrication of WEARPLEX electrodes on textiles. Published results on the reduction of the thickness of this primer layer based on the fabric material and properties to improve the wearability of WEARPLEX electrodes were also highlighted. The screen printing of WEARPLEX electrodes on flexible plastic sheets that are subsequently laminated on textiles was also discussed to indicate the different integration approach adopted in WEARPLEX. Also, the integration of flexible filament circuits into textiles using the weaving process was also described showing example devices fabricated at the UoS. This process is to be combined with the screen-printing process to seamlessly embed the control electronics for the WEARPLEX electrodes into textiles. Example WEARPLEX electrodes that combines with the skin/electrode material from IDUN was also presented. The presentation also showed printed transistors and decoder circuits and the impressive yield on textiles realised at UoS. The presentation ended with the reliability tests conducted in UoS to ensure printed devices are robust against practical stresses of textile use. It highlighted bending tests and wash tests based on ISO:6300:2000 standard which has been employed in WEARPLEX. Reliability results referencing published papers from UoS were also presented.

Link: Here

Soft Skin-Electrode Interface

IDUN

Katja Junker

The presentation gave a short overview of IDUN Technologies and the types of electrodes that were developed/are still in development. The soft, conductive material, the DRYODE™ Ink that was developed by IDT after the release of their first product and that is also used as soft skin-electrode interface material in the WEARPLEX project, was presented. Based on the same material system, a stimulation variant of the ink was especially developed for WEARPLEX FES applications. A short overview of the properties of the two inks was given. The presentation was concluded with an outlook of further developments, with focus on an electrode-skin interface material that can be used for both, recording and stimulation and suitable alternative processing methods.

Link: Here

FES applications

TECSR

Matija Strbac

The presentation showcased the application area of electrical stimulation and how the multi-pad electrode concept can significantly improve the impact of this technologies in different domains. Examples of biomedical electrodes use for electrical stimulation in neurorehabilitation, posttraumatic rehabilitation, and human-machine interfacing. The added value that the WEARPLEX concept can bring in this context was explained and illustrated on the examples of smart multiplexed electrodes for human-machine interaction and pain therapy. Spotlight was put on two use cases designated as targets for the Gamma prototypes, first being high density electrode matrix for tactile stimulation based on 3-8 OECT decoder circuits, second being textile integrated TENS electrode representing actuated kinesio tape based on 8bit OECT shift registers Finally, the game testbed for technical validation of electrostimulation scenarios was presented, and the demonstrator was introduced. This provided a good basis for the later demo session where the prototypes were shown in action.  

Link: Here

Screen Printed OECTs and OECT-based Logic Circuits

RISE

Peter Andersson Ersman

The presentation introduced organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) and OECT-based logic circuits manufactured by screen printing. The advantages of the technology are: low-voltage operation, high current throughput, and scalable production at high manufacturing yield, thereby allowing for implementation in the targeted WEARPLEX demonstrators. The printed logic circuits enable addressability in the multi-pad electrodes, and the high current throughput allow for transfer of biphasic pulses in the stimulation application. In addition to this, the relatively complex 8-channel multiplexer circuit for the recording application has also been successfully evaluated during the Gamma stage. In short, the results show that the transfer of voltage signals with low amplitudes, e.g., EMG, can be controlled by using the OECTs as digital switches, without cross-talk to/from the seven neighboring channels in the multiplexer circuit.

Activities to mitigate the inherent humidity dependence in the electrolyte-based OECTs have also been carried out, but the operational lifetime of these devices are still a major challenge, especially in the stimulation application due to the high current and voltage levels. The circuits designed in the Gamma stage, for both stimulation and recording applications, have been screen printed on three different substrates; plastic, textile (including also the TPU-based interface layer) and commercially available TPU-based heat transfer films.

Link: Here

Human Model Equivalent circuit

BCM

Nikola Perinka

The presentation introduces the process of conceptualization, design and fabrication of the printed human model equivalent circuit (HMEC). The HMEC represents electrical behavior of the human skin and allows testing of the printed FES electrodes without the need to perform trials on humans. The HMEC consists of a stack of 5 printed layers of different materials (dielectric, conductor and semiconductor), which are transformed to printed capacitors, resistances and electrode pads, adjusted to match the WEARPLEX demonstrator design.

The HMEC has been adapted to the demonstrator design at each stage of the project (Alpha, Beta, Gamma), so that a flexible testbed could be used for testing of the complete FES printed system.

Link: Here

Scaleup printing

TUC

David Holzner

The presentation introduces the scaleup workflow including the main steps of the printing upscaling and their aims: lab-scale production, lab-to-fab transfer, pilot and industrial manufacturing lines. The production processes performed by TUC were demonstrated based on the achieved results within WEARPLEX.

S2S flatbed screen printing is employed for the initial lab-scale production, testing the printability of all functional materials and gathering a dataset of printing, pre- and post-processing parameters. Screen types and processing parameters are chosen to be transferable to a semi-industrial R2R screen printing process. The printing process is transferred to a semi-industrial rotary printing press and a fully R2R printed Electrode stack for WEARPLEX is demonstrated. Possible production issues are pointed out and alternative R2R production methods are evaluated. Finally, the anticipated pilot and industrial manufacturing lines are briefly discussed.

Link: Here