Fabric Actuator with Embedded Electrodes (FAEE): An Integrated System for Active Skin Condition Regulation and ECG Monitoring

This study presents a novel ECG monitoring device named the Fabric Actuator with Embedded Electrode (FAEE) that seamlessly integrates skin condition regulation to improve biosignal acquisition, particularly under dry skin conditions, capable of gentle interaction with the human body. The FAEE incorporates a fabric actuator that actively modulates temperature and humidity, alongside textile-based electrodes for biosignal acquisition, enabling reliable heart rate monitoring. The actuator is constructed with fluidic channels embedded in a fabric engineered to be both waterproof and moisture-permeable, allowing for controlled water circulation and vapor release. By regulating skin moisture levels, the actuator enhances electrode-skin contact, leading to stable and high-quality ECG signal acquisition. The soft, adaptive characteristics of the developed ECG monitoring system offer not only functional monitoring capabilities but also psychological comfort.