A knit hat, which is one of the first pieces of clothing an infant wears, could become an easy way to detect fever in infants.
- A researcher is developing body-tracking wearable technology, or smart clothes, through thermochromic yarn that changes colour based on body temperature.
- The hat will monitor the infant’s temperature. Its threads will change colours to alert others if there is a temperature spike.
- Sibei Xia, assistant professor in the Louisiana State University (LSU) Department of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising, is exploring ways to use “smart clothing” to track newborns’ temperatures.
The Smart Way: Using thermochromic technology may reduce the need to monitor a newborn’s temperature using thermometers and other invasive technologies.
- The hat also has the potential to reduce the number of times the infant is disturbed for a temperature check.
- These hats are designed to have a band that combines functional and cotton yarn to detect temperature without influencing its comfort.
- Advanced knitting technology makes it possible to explore functional yarns in the medical field.
- The prototype for the hat was produced using the department’s flatback knitting machines.
- These machines are fully computer-controlled, allowing the operator to customise patterns and tension.
The thermochromic yarn’s threshold temperature can be changed by adding additional yarns or changing the knitting pattern. - The research explores different yarn colours, knitting structures and threshold temperatures to determine which combination produces the desired colour-changing effect.
- The threshold temperature is the temperature the yarn will change colour. Xia’s prototype changes from purple to beige around 36 degrees Celsius.
The Way Ahead: Xia plans to collaborate with faculty in the School of Renewable Natural Resources to further test the garment in a thermal chamber that allows the researchers access to a controlled environment.
- As part of the study, she is developing a survey for mothers at various stages to understand their expectations for the product and to explore their needs for the garment.
- Xia hopes to secure funding for an infant thermomanikin. This manikin is controlled for both thermal and moisture levels and could simulate sweating and fevers. She thinks the manikin would be a major player in the testing procedures.
What They Said:
If the newborn’s temperature goes really high, it’s going to change the hat to a beige color so that we don’t have to necessarily measure the temperature that often or use other technologies to monitor temperature... One requirement of wearable technology is to make it really close to our body, and that can be achieved perfectly through knitting technology.
— Sibei Xia
Assistant Professor, Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising
Louisiana State University
