David Savastano, Editor01.21.15
People are looking for new ways to gather information that they can use for their daily lives, which is one of the drivers in the development of wearables. The ability to develop wearable sensors that monitor fields as diverse as healthcare and exercise is drawing tremendous interest in the marketplace.
For manufacturers, one key is the developing the ability to produce these sensors at a price point that the market will accept. For example, printing these wearable flexible sensors could offer a strong solution.
CETEMMSA Technological Centre is already providing expertise in the field of printable textiles. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, CETEMMSA is an applied research center specialized in the emerging field of printed electronics as well as textiles, and the combination of these two core competencies is already paying dividends.
Accredited as a Centre for Technology Innovation by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, CETEMMSA is a member of the TECNIO network of the Catalonian government. The results of CETEMMSA’s research are the basis of joint projects with companies for innovation and experimental development of smart products.
“CETEMMSA is a technology center working in the field of printed electronics,” said Dr. Laura Lopez, head of scientific valorization business and technology transfer for CETEMMSA. “Our mission is to transfer technology to companies to help make them more competitive.”
CETEMMSA has the ability to test and produce its printed sensors, using a roll-to-roll flat screen printer machine for printing electronics on flexible surfaces. The system has three different curing technologies for conductive inks.
“We are working on printed sensors, high-performance textiles that can offer different functionalities, printed circuits and printed components,” Dr. Lopez added. “We are moving toward printing electronics directly on textiles. We do applied research and have equipment to scale-up processes for companies.
“We have developed heated textiles that are not wired, as well as automotive seats that are heated,” Dr. Lopez noted. “We have created conductive yarns and textiles, as well as electroluminescent lighting of hoodies and for security applications. There are applications for health care, such as harnesses for ECGs, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, that have received a high level of patient acceptance.”
CETEMMSA has some successes already in the field of wearables. One example is the TOF-Cuff Medical Device, invented by Dr. Josep Rodiera, designed by CETEMMSA and manufactured by RGB Medical Devices Company, in Madrid. TOF-Cuff is an initiative that tests blood pressure and neuromuscular transmission monitoring under anesthesia in just one device, improving the clinical practice.
WIISEL, the Wireless Insole for Independent & Safe Elderly Living, as another project that CETEMMSA is coordinating. The stated goal of WIISEL is to develop a flexible research tool to collect and analyze gait data from real users and correlate parameters related with the risk of falls from the elderly.
WIISEL has a budget of €3.9 million, and is being co-funded by the European Commission (FP7-ICT) for three years. The project has eight partners.
Dr. Lopez added that CETEMMSA is well placed to design products, develop devices and manufacturing processes for devices. This fits in nicely with its expertise in textiles.
“CETEMMSA specializes in fabric treatment,” Dr. Lopez concluded. “We can print or weave different yarns. Our expertise is in textiles. We have the know-how.”
For manufacturers, one key is the developing the ability to produce these sensors at a price point that the market will accept. For example, printing these wearable flexible sensors could offer a strong solution.
CETEMMSA Technological Centre is already providing expertise in the field of printable textiles. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, CETEMMSA is an applied research center specialized in the emerging field of printed electronics as well as textiles, and the combination of these two core competencies is already paying dividends.
Accredited as a Centre for Technology Innovation by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, CETEMMSA is a member of the TECNIO network of the Catalonian government. The results of CETEMMSA’s research are the basis of joint projects with companies for innovation and experimental development of smart products.
“CETEMMSA is a technology center working in the field of printed electronics,” said Dr. Laura Lopez, head of scientific valorization business and technology transfer for CETEMMSA. “Our mission is to transfer technology to companies to help make them more competitive.”
CETEMMSA has the ability to test and produce its printed sensors, using a roll-to-roll flat screen printer machine for printing electronics on flexible surfaces. The system has three different curing technologies for conductive inks.
“We are working on printed sensors, high-performance textiles that can offer different functionalities, printed circuits and printed components,” Dr. Lopez added. “We are moving toward printing electronics directly on textiles. We do applied research and have equipment to scale-up processes for companies.
“We have developed heated textiles that are not wired, as well as automotive seats that are heated,” Dr. Lopez noted. “We have created conductive yarns and textiles, as well as electroluminescent lighting of hoodies and for security applications. There are applications for health care, such as harnesses for ECGs, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, that have received a high level of patient acceptance.”
CETEMMSA has some successes already in the field of wearables. One example is the TOF-Cuff Medical Device, invented by Dr. Josep Rodiera, designed by CETEMMSA and manufactured by RGB Medical Devices Company, in Madrid. TOF-Cuff is an initiative that tests blood pressure and neuromuscular transmission monitoring under anesthesia in just one device, improving the clinical practice.
WIISEL, the Wireless Insole for Independent & Safe Elderly Living, as another project that CETEMMSA is coordinating. The stated goal of WIISEL is to develop a flexible research tool to collect and analyze gait data from real users and correlate parameters related with the risk of falls from the elderly.
WIISEL has a budget of €3.9 million, and is being co-funded by the European Commission (FP7-ICT) for three years. The project has eight partners.
Dr. Lopez added that CETEMMSA is well placed to design products, develop devices and manufacturing processes for devices. This fits in nicely with its expertise in textiles.
“CETEMMSA specializes in fabric treatment,” Dr. Lopez concluded. “We can print or weave different yarns. Our expertise is in textiles. We have the know-how.”