Research summary
Cardiorespiratory conditions—such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and bronchiectasis—are relatively common, especially as we age. Dr. Azadeh Yadollahi, Canada Research Chair in Cardiorespiratory Engineering, is developing smart garments to help older adults manage chronic cardiorespiratory conditions.
Smart garments have many advantages, such as constant monitoring, better data accuracy, and user-friendliness. Yadollahi and her research team are co-designing these textiles with older adults, care providers and industry experts. They are also developing a new bioimpedance measurement system (a biomedical technique to determine the electrical behaviour of living tissue) and smart shirt prototypes for monitoring respiratory and cardiac functions. In addition, Yadollahi’s team is exploring the impact of thoracic fluid accumulation on conditions like asthma and sleep apnea. Their research holds great promise for transforming remote health monitoring and prioritizing personalized care, particularly for underserved populations.