Tomsk electrodes for "smart" clothing have been successfully tested on rabbits to register human bio-potentials, according to Tomsk Polytechnic University. The experiment showed that the electrodes have low cytotoxicity, causing less inflammation on the skin compared to existing analogues. This makes the Tomsk development promising for creating "smart" clothing used by athletes and outpatient patients.
The sensors in the clothing allow for the registration of electrical activity of the heart, brain, muscles, and other vital human parameters. Currently available electrodes cannot be continuously used for more than 72 hours as they cause skin irritation due to the silver chloride electrode material and adhesive. However, the electrodes developed at Tomsk Polytechnic University, which are made from graphene oxide, were tested for 12 days and had significantly less skin reaction in rabbits. This is due to the properties of the composite material and the fact that the electrodes are "dry" and do not require a gel interface to make contact with the skin. They are also resistant to washing.