Trends in Smart Medical Textiles

Textiles are undergoing a revolution: instead of passively serving clothing needs, textiles have become an active interface between the body and its environment, which increasingly support a wide range of specific functionalities, from micro encapsulation of therapies to electronic conductivity. Smart Textiles for Medicine and Healthcare disseminates the most recent international research into fabric functionalities, and their applications, with the potential to impact the medical field across surgical and patient clothing, drug delivery and the environment for both hospital and home care.

Trends in Smart Medical Textiles forms the introductory chapter of this book, giving an overview of current areas of research in smart and functional textiles and revealing some of the emerging applications from leading research-led companies which are beginning to impact the medical arena. The chapter outlines for a medical audience the background context of wearable computing, gives a new comparative analysis of definitions of smart textiles and discusses the range of micro and nano-technologies currently being explored and relevant to medical care and patient monitoring. The research was conducted from both primary and secondary sources (company personnel interviews, literature search and research institutions), triangulated with data obtained by attending relevant science and technology conferences, workshops and lectures. The synthesis of this research presents a coherent analysis of key trends in the field.

Sandy Black's research interests include knitwear, fashion and textiles design with particular emphasis on 3 dimensional aspects of design and realisation, incorporating mathematical principles. Inter-disciplinary design in social and cultural context; Innovation in knitwear particularly 3D and seamless construction; Intersection of arts and science with design; Sustainability issues in fashion and textiles.

Current Research

My current research interests seek to Interrogate Fashion - its practice and design processes. I am developing projects that integrate old and new technologies and seek new ways to approach the design and creation of fashion-related products through the relationship between craft practices and advanced technology. A key concept underpinning this research is the notion developed with the Interrogating Fashion Research Cluster during 2005 of more responsible design that takes into account the wider environmental, ethical, social and individual needs of products and their users.
My personal research continues in knitwear utilising the potential of advanced technology for three-dimensional structures, and in particular the application of mathematical concepts to knitted artefacts and knitwear.

Drawing on my background in both knitwear design and mathematics, I am involved in personal research which is exploring new forms in the realisation of knitwear, using advanced technologies and based on mathematical concepts of topology.

As principal investigator of the EPSRC/AHRC funded Research Cluster 'Interrogating Fashion' I am bringing together academics, fashion and textile designers, computer and material scientists, artists, musicians and researchers to discuss future ideas and changing paradigms for fashion and accessories in the 21st century. With a focus on practice, process and presentation , the research cluster will explore, through workshops and events during the current year, three overlapping themes:

• Digital Fashion? from craft to mass customisation

• The Fashion Paradox: transcience and sustainability

• Fashion in Context: presentation and display, audience and engagement