Evaluation of novel textile electrodes for ECG signals monitoring based on PEDOT:PSS-treated woven fabrics

Despite surface electrodes technology for biopotential recording is well established, different researches are aimed at overcoming the limitations exhibited by the available solutions. In this paper, a proposal for the low-cost development of textile electrodes based on woven fabrics treated with polymer poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), is presented. Compared to other approaches, the proposed one can be exploited on any finished fabric. An accurate analysis of the electrodes performance, based on impedance measurements and signal processing techniques, both in wet and dry conditions, reveals the virtues and vices of the proposed solution, when used for electrocardiogram recording. In particular, the potentialities of these electrodes clearly emerge, in terms of ability to work without any electrolyte, providing a valuable interface between the skin and the electrode, in some cases achieving better performance than commercial disposable electrodes.