Here are some of our most commonly asked questions about biosensors and biometric sensors.
What is a biosensor?
The most common example of a biosensor is blood glucose monitoring strips. These strips can be manufactured using a screen-printed process. There are layers of conductive silver traces that surround a layer of printed enzymes. Once blood touches the strip, it reacts with the enzymes, and the conductive ink relays the information from the blood to the monitoring device. Other biosensors are created with different enzymes to react with other biological fluids like sweat or saliva.
What is a biometric sensor?
Biometric sensors use the body's natural electrical impulses to gain information instead of a fluid. Wearables commonly use biometric sensors to measure heart rates, muscle, and brain activity. Biometric sensors are the most widely used in medical and performance sportswear applications. If you would like to learn more about the differences between biosensors and biometric sensors, click here.
Does hydrogel need to be used with printed biometric sensors or electrodes?
Hydrogel does is not needed with biometric sensors. Sometimes in specific applications, a hydrogel can be used in conjunction with printed biometric sensors. Hydrogel is typically used with electrodes instead of sensors. Dry electrodes designed are becoming more popular since they do not use any gels.
Please read our blog about all of the kinds of sensors made at Butler Technologies!
Does BTI manufacturer the garment that the biometric sensors will attach to?
BTI only manufactures biosensors. However, we have partners we can refer you to for the garment portion of your product design.
Does BTI develop any of the software to integrate the biosensors?
BTI only manufactures the biosensors themselves. However, we can refer you to our partners who can help with the software design/integration.
Can biometric sensors be integrated with IoT technology?
Biometric sensors can be IoT integrated so that the information they receive is relayed to a device via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth module and any other hardware components are not made at BTI. We also have contacts that we can refer to for projects that require a hardware module.
How are biometric sensors transferred into clothing’s fabric?
Circuits are heat transferred or sewed to garments and then integrated into the hardware/software packages using printed connector tails.
How many wash cycles can the biometric sensors go through?
Typically, biometric sensors are incredibly durable and can withstand up to 100 wash cycles before any malfunctions arise.
What happens to all the data the biosensors have?
It can be integrated with IoT technology, and the information can be relayed to a device via Bluetooth to an app or other storing system.
Are biometric sensors wireless?
Our custom biofeedback sensors are entirely wireless. However, there are different kinds of tail connectors to use to connect to the module. Many biometric sensors use soldier tabs as connectors.
What kind of sensors are used in performance monitoring?
Standard sensors in the performance monitoring industry include heart and respiratory rate sensors, EMG, and TENS. You can read more about performing better with biosensors here.