Medical Devices

Project leiTEX: Printed energy storage for wireless evaluable sensor label

© Fraunhofer ENAS
A printed battery manufactured on a technical textile driving one LED.

Today sensor labels are already used in many different ways. In particular, for applications in the field of medical technology. However, there are still challenges that do not allow applicability or only to a limited extent. This includes, e.g. the high integrability into medical textiles, the wireless evaluation by means of WLAN or Bluetooth and a comparatively cost-effective production. The goal is to develop printed energy storage devices that meet the high requirements of medical technology and sensor properties.
The implementation project leiTEX (Print Production of Conductive Structures and Energy Sources on Textile Fabrics) within the project futureTEX is funded by the BMBF within the framework of Zwanzig20. This project addresses the question of the development of printable, thin and highly integrable energy sources for applications in wirelessly evaluable sensor systems, i.a. applications in medical technology. In addition to the development of printed energy sources (i.e. batteries), the project also develops further parts of the sensor system, such as printed conductors and antennas. As printing processes, inkjet and screen printing are used. Thus, sensor systems for e.g. temperature measurements on technical textiles, e.g. artificial leather and hygiene textiles, are possible.
Within the project, 3 V batteries with 20 mAh were initially set up on the technical textiles (the functionality is shown by driving of a LED). In addition, the circuit and Bluetooth antenna were designed. In the next step, the circuit will be finalized and realized on the available substrates.