NWO grant awarded for wearable that monitors patients with bipolar disorder

People with bipolar disorder require the regular intake of lithium, which needs to be monitored on a monthly basis. They do this by going to a clinic to have a blood sample taken. The sample is then analysed and after a few days they receive a snapshot result. This procedure is costly, tiresome, and prone to errors.

Continuous monitoring is safer and more cost effective. And this is where wearables come in to play, they are promising tools that can help make continuous monitoring more accessible and practical. They can be worn in close contact with the human body, and are able to measure vital signals such as heart rate and skin temperature; as well as, the concentration of medication, metabolites, and electrolytes in a person’s blood or sweat.

Kaspar Jansen says: “We want to develop a woven sensor band that consists of yarns that stimulate sweat secretion; yarns that collect it; electrochemical sensor fibres; and, embedded electronics. Since the device will be worn during normal daily activities, the sensors should be comfortable to wear and easy to use.”

“We have a strong, complimentary team. We combine knowledge of materials, design and electronics and we have a test group which will provide feedback on usability. Is the battery in the right place? How does the textile feel? It is comfortable to wear? If we succeed to create this band, this would be a revolution, as there is no product like this available for people struggling with depression or bipolar disorder. I am exited to start this project.”