Bringing smart technology to the humble t-shirt

This time it was my father, but next time it will be someone else. If I create something like this t-shirt, I am part of the solution.

When Mes thinks about the impact of his research, he thinks of his dad—who suffered a heart attack and did not make it to the hospital in time. For people living rurally, managing cardiac health would be made easier with this technology.

While the industry standard is to use 12 electrodes, Mes’s design could allow for 15 electrodes—providing the option for a more comprehensive test. He is currently experimenting with how the t-shirt should transmit data to the hospital, how to increase the distance and coverage of the connection, and how to make it simple and comfortable (reducing the bulkiness of the electrodes). Mes is taking all factors into consideration. One surprising opportunity has led Mes to work with an ex-wedding dress designer, who is now an engineer at Tonsley, to make the t-shirt look like something people want to wear. ‘It won’t look like a medical device,’ Mes promises.

E-textile technology is a rapidly growing field, and Mes is bringing it into the world of cardiac health and monitoring. When asked about this type of research, he’ll reply, ‘I have no idea how I got here, but this is where I want to be.’

• Mes’ work falls under the Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI), which is committed to producing high-quality research, encouraging the development of early career researchers and providing a nurturing environment for higher degree research students.
• Mes received financial assistance through the Heart Foundation Tom Simpson Trust Fund (2017 Equipment Grant).
  
• Addis Ababa Institute of Technology and CINOP Global supported Mes’ research through the Nuffic, a Dutch organisation for the internationalisation of education, NICHE project funding.
• Mes' PhD project is supervised by Professor Robyn Clark,  Professor Karen Reynolds and Dr David Hobbs