Group

Advanced Textiles Research Group

Unit(s) of assessment: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Research theme(s): Health Innovation

School: School of Art & Design

Electronic functionality is embedded within yarns and textiles. Visit the project website to find out more.

Blending science and art to improve access to surgical education

Experimental new methodologies are embraced in our purpose-built laboratory at Nottingham Trent University: The Flexural Composites Research Laboratory is currently investigating a variety of materials and technologies to aid the manufacture of synthetic, living, soft tissues to enhance surgical and anatomical education.

Beginning with medical imaging data taken from CT and MRI scans of real, living patients; data is manipulated to create digital, 3-dimensional models of living organs, blood vessels, muscle, skin and other living, soft anatomy. These are recreated as digital models and 3D printed in-house.

The rigid, high-definition 3D printed models are then processed using new manufacturing methodologies developed by the Advanced Textiles Research Group, to recreate soft tissues as they appear in the living patient during surgery.

Simulating the tactility and appearance of a living patient in this way will offer trainee surgeons, in the very near future, a unique opportunity to learn the principles of surgery, from emergency trauma treatment to basic anatomy, in an immersive manner, whilst providing the psychological space to learn without the pressure of performance.

To achieve this, a variety of viscoelastic composite materials are being developed using blends of synthetic gels, waxes, oils and fibres to mimic a wide variety of living soft tissues.

These are developed in collaboration with surgeons to ensure authenticity of the tactility and aesthetic values and are further underpinned by adopting medical, contactless technologies to identify the mechanical characteristics of each soft tissue type.

The work is being led by Richard Arm [link to Richard’s profile], Advanced Textiles Research Group Research Fellow, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, a small team of individual specialist surgeons and special effects company SME- Trauma FX.

A prototype thoracic trauma trainer* has already been completed and user trials are currently underway alongside collaborators at the Royal College of Surgeons, Air Ambulance and Queens Medical Centre's Major Trauma Unit. * Warning: Some people may find this video disturbing due to graphic images of simulated body parts

Our research was recently voted by some of the UK's top surgeons, at the Royal College of Surgeons, as winner of the '2017 Transforming Surgical Education Award'.

Global media coverage by the BBC, Discovery Channel and CNN, in 2016, sparked world-wide interest in this research, leading to the formation of new, high-profile industry partnerships.

Other uses for the technology are currently unfolding, but include the support of implantable medical device design, demonstrative training and marketing for medical equipment, prosthetics and other wearable technologies, robotic surgery training environments and protective equipment testing.

Development of products for applications including medicine, terrestrial-communication systems and rehabilitation:

Breathable prosthetic sleeves
Electrodes for remote monitoring of heart rate variability
Compression garments for management of lymphoedema
Fabric antennae for communication systems
Knitted heating products
Knitted sensors
Knitted shoes for orthotics

Light emitting textiles
Automotive textiles

Located in the University's School of Art & Design, the research group works closely with art and fashion colleagues, and has moved and grown within the School since its creation. Professor Dias, who leads the group, has over 35 years of research experience in this area, and has extensive industrial and academic contacts both within the UK and internationally.

The research group's areas of work include:

Development of smart yarns by embedding semiconductor dice in yarns / fibres
Advanced knitted and woven structures
Knitted, heated textiles
Flexible fabric antennae for communication systems
Electronically-active textiles for medical and automotive applications
Graduated compression garments for sports, rehabilitation, and the treatment of venous disease and lymphoedema
Smart knitted structures for active moisture management
Mimicry of living, biomechanical structures and biological surrogate synthetics
Surgical, trauma and implant training simulators and phantom modelling

To find out more about Advanced Textiles Research download the brochure.

For academic enquires and for more information about the research group, please contact the Research Group Leader, Professor Tilak Dias, by email or telephone +44 (0) 115 848 6518.

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From electronic textiles to the history of lace, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 83% of our research in Art and Design was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of research impact.

Explore our results

Our research is supported by:

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council: The UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine
Innovate UK

Industrial Partners

Advanced Therapeutic Materials: Custom fit compression garments
Airbus: Aircraft, satellites and launch vehicles, plus navigation and secure communications
BAE systems: Developing new technologies for commercial and military markets
Bonnie Binary: Prototyping of e-textiles and associated wearables
BSN Medical UK: Compression Therapy, Wound Care and Orthopaedics
Camira Fabrics Ltd (Technical Knitting): Interiors and lifestyle sectors
Centre for Process Innovation: Supporting the UK process manufacturing industry
H. Stoll AG & Co. KG: Developing and manufacturing flat knitting machines and developer in the Fashion & Technology sector
International Automotive Components: Automotive interiors technology expertise
Intertronics: Quality materials, consumables and equipment for the technology and high performance assembly industries
MAS holdings: Apparel and textile manufacturing
Medicity: Business development for innovators in consumer healthcare, medical technology, diagnostics and beauty products
Oxford Space Systems: Space technology, including lightweight antennas
Plessey semiconductors: Innovative design and manufacture of electronics, including solid state lighting
Polyco Healthline: Design and manufacture of protective gloves
QinetiQ: Innovation in technology to provide products and services for government and commercial applications
Shima Seiki: Knitting technology, especially development of flatbed knitting machines
Smartlife: Specialists in smart garment technology
Speedo: International swimwear brand
Stretchline: Manufacture of elasticated plus intimate and active apparel
Urgo Medical: Wound-healing solutions
Zwick/Roell: Materials testing machines

Academic Partners

University of Southampton; Electronics and Computer Science: Research in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
University of Sheffield; Communications Research Group, Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
Loughborough University; Wireless Communications Research Group, School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka; Department of Textiles and Clothing Technology
Donghua University, China; College of Textiles

Working With Us

Core services we offer include:

Fundamental research on the next generation of SMART textiles and intelligent fibre materials
Applications for electronic yarns
Fundamental and applied research on novel manufacturing technologies
Innovative product development for industry
Rapid prototyping minimising lead times
Translation of technology for product manufacture

Core technology platforms can be easily adapted to meet individual needs. From leading-edge research and consultancy to first-rate testing facilities, let us be the perfect partner for your business.

For information about the Advanced Textiles Research Group, or about research or collaboration opportunities, contact Professor Tilak Dias.