A novel method of fabricating carbon nanotubes-polydimethylsiloxane composite electrodes for electrocardiography.
Polymer-based flexible electrodes are receiving much attention in medical applications due to their good wearing comfort. The current fabrication methods of such electrodes are not widely applied. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and conductive additives of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were employed to fabricate composite electrodes for electrocardiography (ECG). A three-step dispersion process consisting of ultrasonication, stirring, and in situ polymerization was developed to yield homogenous CNTs-PDMS mixtures. The CNTs-PDMS mixtures were used to fabricate CNTs-PDMS composite electrodes by replica technology. The influence of ultrasonication time and CNT concentration on polymer electrode performance was evaluated by impedance and ECG measurements. The signal amplitude of the electrodes prepared using an ultrasonication time of 12 h and CNT content of 5 wt% was comparable to that of commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes. The polymer electrodes were easily fabricated by conventional manufacturing techniques, indicating a potential advantage of reduced cost for mass production.
b Ensense Biomedical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. , 201112 Shanghai , China.
Benyan
B
Liu
a Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , 200127 Shanghai , China.|c Shanghai Jiading District Central Hospital (Renji Hospital Jiading Branch) , 201800 Shanghai , China.
Yingmin
Y
Chen
b Ensense Biomedical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. , 201112 Shanghai , China.
Zhangyuan
Z
Luo
b Ensense Biomedical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. , 201112 Shanghai , China.
Wenzan
W
Zhang
b Ensense Biomedical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. , 201112 Shanghai , China.
Quan
Q
Tu
b Ensense Biomedical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. , 201112 Shanghai , China.
Xun
X
Jin
D002681:China; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013010:Sonication; D013997:Time Factors
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon
carbon nanotubes; composite electrode; dispersion; electrocardiography; polydimethylsiloxane