journal article·2024-11-14Open access

Full textile-based body-coupled electrical stimulation for wireless, battery-free, and wearable bioelectronics

Myunghwan Song, Junyoung Moon, Hyungseok Yong, Hyeonhui Song, Juneil Park, Jiwoong Hur, Dongchang Kim, Kyungtae Park, Sungwon Jung, Gyeongmo Kim, Sangeui Lee, Deokjae Heo, Kyunghwan Cha, Patrick T. J. Hwang, Jinkee Hong, Giuk Lee, Sangmin Lee

npj Flexible Electronics· Volume 8· Issue 1

Abstract

Electrical stimulation is effective for various therapeutic applications; however, to increase convenience, it is crucial to eliminate generators and batteries for wireless power transmission. This paper presents a full textile-based body-coupled electrical stimulation (BCES) system designed for wireless electrical stimulation using energy loss from electronic devices and static electricity from physical activity. We developed the BCES socks by knitting conductive threads to ensure stability and comfort. BCES socks generate electric fields ranging from tens to hundreds of millivolts per millimeter, which are sufficient to activate muscle fibers. Experimental and computational analyses confirmed the effective concentration of the electric fields. Human trials demonstrated significant improvements in exercise performance, with a 21.47% increase in calf raise frequency, an 11.97% increase in repetition count, and a 6.25% reduction in muscle fatigue. These results indicate the potential of BCES socks as a practical battery-free solution for enhancing muscle activity and reducing fatigue.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Wireless Body Area Networks · Muscle activation and electromyography studies

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