A novel intelligent textile technology and its application to respiratory sound monitoring

这项综合系统方案的重点是开发一种新的智能纺织技术，并将其应用于呼吸声的连续监测。为了克服纺织品的柔性与传感和计算元件的刚性之间的矛盾，提出了一种新的方法，将纺织品与采用独特的柔性皮肤技术制造的柔性换能器/电路集成在一起。其独特之处在于，柔性皮肤是基于硅片制造的。各种MEMS器件和电路可以首先利用现有技术在硅片上制造，然后变得灵活，最后编织成纺织品。因此，现有的成熟技术可以直接借用，避免重复发明，可以节省大量的研发工作。这项拟议的研究将首次导致智能纺织品的出现，这种纺织品与普通面料一样灵活舒适，能够执行各种功能。拟议的智能纺织品将作为各种集成系统的通用平台，并为许多新的应用打开大门。同时，通过一个新的智能纺织品教育项目，这项研究将有效地与教育相结合。将为高中生和本科生开发专门的课程。作为拟议活动更广泛影响的证据，将努力纳入任职人数不足的群体的参与。这项拟议的研究还有可能建立一个新的技术密集型行业，有助于在美国国内创造新的就业机会。

This integrative systems proposal focuses on the development of a novel intelligent textile technology and its application for continuous respiratory sound monitoring. To overcome the conflict between the flexibility of the textiles and the rigidity of the sensing and computation components, a novel approach is proposed by integrating textiles with flexible transducers/circuits that are fabricated with a unique 'flexible-skin' technology. The uniqueness is that the flexible skins are fabricated based on silicon wafers. Various MEMS devices and circuits can be fabricated on silicon wafers first using existing technologies, then be made flexible, and finally be woven into textiles. Therefore, the existing mature technologies can be directly borrowed and significant R&D efforts can be saved by avoiding re-invention. The proposed research will lead to intelligent textiles, which are as flexible and comfortable as the regular fabrics and able to perform a vast variety of functions, for the first time. The proposed intelligent textiles will serve as a generic platform for various integrative systems and open the door to numerous new applications. Simultaneously, the research will be effectively integrated with education through a new education program in intelligent textiles. Special programs will be developed for high school students and undergraduate students. As evidence of the broader impact of the proposed activities, efforts will be made to include the participation of underrepresented groups. The proposed research also has the potential to establish a new technology-intensive industry that helps to create new job opportunities inside the United States.