Any cyclist can tell you the importance of wearing a helmet to save a noggin' from damage during a crash. Bikers add leather gear to the equation for the open highway. And Firefighters wear heat-resistant pants and jackets when battling fires.
Soon U.S. military personnel may find that wearing underpants could save their lives. Not just any ol' Hanes or Fruit of the Loom brand -- although arguably wearing tighty whities in certain battlefield circumstances might be more prudent than not. However, what I'm talking about are briefs that have carbon-based electrodes screenprinted onto the fabric, which acts as a biosensor to measure blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs.
The innovation comes from nano-engineer Joseph Wang of the University of California, San Diego. In an interview with Reuters Television Wang said:
"This specific project involves monitoring the injury of soldiers during battlefield surgery and the goal is to develop minimally invasive sensors that can locate, in the field, and identify the type of injury."
And even beyond this, the waistband could contain medication, such as a pain-relief drug, that it could release in the presence of certain injuries.
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Like all technologies that get their start in the military, these intelligent textiles could eventually make their way into civilian life. Elderly folks could wear the underpants to help monitor cardiac conditions, potential symptoms for a stroke or changes in diet that could affect any diabetic conditions. (No surprise, since someone's already developed underpants for hospital patients with incontinence; the garment sends a text message to nurses when accidents occur.) And athletes could also benefit during training by wearing an undergarment that monitors physical conditions.
Tags: Biotechnology, Health, Military Inventions, Wearable Computers
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