Boxer Underwear Incorporating Textile Moisture Sensor to Prevent Nocturnal Enuresis

Abstract

Around 15% of children still wet their bed after five years old. Although bedwetting alarms have proven to be effective to achieve nighttime dryness, they are cumbersome so children could be reluctant to use them. Therefore, the moisture sensor and wire were made unobtrusive by seamlessly integrated them into fully textile underwear by using conductive yarns. Consequently, the alarm acceptability should be enhanced by improving children's comfort. Three conductive textile metallic yarns, made of silver or stainless steel, were considered to fabricate the urine leakage sensor. Silver-plated-nylon yarn, which showed the highest electrical conductivity, outperformed the stainless-steel yarns regarding its ability to detect urine leakage as well as its detection speed. Furthermore, it was proven to withstand multiple urine soakings and the following machine-washings, even at high temperature (60 °C). However, the electrical current, necessary to detect the leakage, tends to corrode the silver. Therefore, the detection circuit was adapted. Eventually, the designed leakage sensor was seamlessly integrated into a child's trunk underwear, into which a miniaturized alarm can be plugged. The resulting textile underwear aims at replacing the rigid alarm system currently available, hence improving the quality of life of enuretic children and help them achieving nighttime dryness.

Keywords: enuresis alarm; textile moisture sensor; urinary incontinence; urine leakage sensor.

Figure 1

Schema of the system.

Figure 2

(a) Panel incorporating 12 sensors designs (Yarn A); and (b) detailed view of Type 1 sensors front and back sides.

Figure 3

(a) Trunk integrating leakage sensor; and (b) photographs of the electronic module.

Figure 4

(a) Experimental Setup; and (b) sensor under test mounted on the frame.

Figure 5

(a) bent sensor; (b) normal sensor; (c) elongated sensor (50%); (d) twisted sensor; and (e) sensor under a load of 6 kg.

Figure 6

Electrical pathways in the knitted structure.

Figure 7

Hydrophobic behavior of Yarn B.

Figure 8

Sensor’s performances under different reproduced wearing conditions.