A new type of gadget was invented buy the scientists at Spain's Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). They called the gadget “Intelligent T-Shirt.” It is a clothing made from smart fabrics being used in the medicine field to monitor patients. The main function is to monitor the heart rate, temperature, and activity levels of a person.

The shirt is washable and has electrodes that can detect bioelectrical power like heart beating. It also has a removable device that measures speed and temperature. Detachable thermometer and accelerometer is used in measuring the temperature and speed of the body iin all types of activities and positions like sitting and standing.

The researchers also plan in adding another device on the t-shirt. This device can receive signals from a network of transmitters that are found throughout a hospital. And can wirelessly transmit information to a central management system which can also track the patient’s location within the building.

The creators of the shirt believe that their invention can also be used in homes so they can be monitored closely. They created built in alarm system that will notify the person if he has exceeded the normal heart rate level or if he has a temperature below 37C.
Other projects that are similar to this creation include Biotex clothing that assess body fluids and Philipp’s monitoring under garments and belts.

Assessment and Vital Signs

The first and the main basis of a person’s health condition is to assess and to know one’s vital signs. Before an expert can actually diagnose a patient with hypertension, cardiovascular problems and respiratory ailments, they first assess the patient’s condition through his heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and temperature.

Heart Rate
The normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 bpm. Too slow or too fast heart rates can indicate some cardiovascular problems. However, there are some people with lower normal heart rates like athletes with a normal heart rate level of up to 40 to 50 bpm. On the other hand, pregnant women can have more than 100 beats per minute.

Respiratory Rate
The number of respiration indicates different respiratory problems. The normal respiratory rate is 16 to 20 breaths per minute. When the number of breaths reached 40, the person can be diagnosed to have asthma and other respiratory problems like pneumonia, bronchitis, and many more.

Temperature
Shock can be a sign of temperature lower than 35C. On the other hand, infection can be one of the main causes of fever or temperature over 37C.

Blood Pressure
Checking blood pressure can assess hypotension or hypertension which are the main causes of different types of cardiovascular diseases.