The “intelligent textiles” contain embedded sensors designed to monitor body fluids such as blood and sweat.

The aim is to use the clothes to check on groups such as
recovering hospital patients, people with chronic illnesses and injured
athletes.

The Biotex programme, funded in part by the European Union, involves researchers from eight institutions.

A prototype multi-sensor test patch is already near completion.

The next step will be to try out the experimental fabric on volunteers.

Project co-ordinator Jean Luprano, from the Swiss
technology company CSEM, told The Engineer magazine: “Sensors have been
built and have been tested in the lab.

“We have started their integration into textile patches.

“We will soon have a multi-sensor patch which will allow us to sense several elements in parallel.”