Precision Wearable Stress Monitoring for Mental Health Support
Mental health conditions such as anxiety and mood disorders are increasingly prevalent and require proactive, sensitive solutions. In collaboration with Elitac Wearables, 2M Engineering developed in the T-Sense project stress monitoring wearables and technology: a smart wearable shirt that monitors physiological signs of stress in real-time.
While Elitac Wearables focused on integrating electronics into textiles and haptic feedback, our role was to design and engineer the sensor system that accurately tracks bio-signals like:
- Heart Rate (HR)
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- Breathing Pattern
- Electrodermal Activity (EDA)
All in a non-intrusive, washable textile form factor.
Technical Focus: Embedded Sensor Design
We designed a compact, low-power sensor module optimized for long-term wear and reliable performance. The system includes:
- Textile-integrated dry electrodes for HR and HRV, placed in torso areas less commonly used in traditional ECG (since hands/feet weren’t accessible)
- Breathing sensors to measure respiratory rate and rhythm using stretch-sensitive textile zones
- EDA sensors embedded in chest areas, capturing micro-changes in skin conductance related to emotional arousal
- Temperature and motion sensors for contextual interpretation of stress responses
Special care was taken to ensure that the system was comfortable for highly sensitive user groups, with imperceptible sensing hardware that works seamlessly during daily activities.
Accurate results matter in Stress Monitoring
During testing, we compared T-Sense signals to clinical-grade reference sensors. The results confirmed that the wearable shirt’s data, including heart rate peaks and EDA responses to sudden stimuli, were highly accurate and responsive.
A standout verification was the startle response test: The smart shirt reliably detected emotional arousal in line with reference finger sensors across repeated sessions, confirming its real-time responsiveness.
Real-Time Data Insights from the T-Sense Shirt
Visualizing physiological signals measured by our smart sensor system
We’ve visualized examples of real-time signals captured during testing to illustrate better how the T-Sense shirt interprets physiological data. These graphs demonstrate the accuracy and responsiveness of the embedded sensors across several key health parameters:
Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
This graph shows the shirt detecting heartbeats through textile electrodes. The variation between beats, known as heart rate variability (HRV), is a strong marker for stress and emotional regulation. Lower HRV may indicate increased stress or anxiety.
→ Graph: Heartbeat voltage signal with labeled RR intervals
Breathing Pattern Monitoring
This breathing graph reflects a healthy pattern at rest. The T-Sense shirt detects changes in respiratory rhythm and amplitude through stretch-sensitive textile zones. Irregular or rapid breathing can help identify early signs of mental stress.
→ Graph: Breathing signal showing impedance over time
Electrodermal Activity (EDA) – Emotional Response
The graph compares emotional arousal signals captured by the shirt’s EDA sensors to reference finger electrodes. Both systems showed comparable peaks in response to a startle test, validating the shirt’s ability to track stress-related emotional states.
→ Graph: Conductance response from chest sensor vs. reference
Together, these measurements allow the T-Sense system to deliver reliable, real-time insight through stress monitoring and mental health problems— all in a discreet and comfortable wearable form factor.
Project Goals and Outcomes
- Early detection of stress build-up to prevent anger outbursts or mental health issues
- Improved safety for caregivers through timely alerts
- Comfortable design tailored for highly sensitive patients
- Durable prototype that is washable and ready for extended field use
Collaboration & Project Scope
The T-Sense project was funded by Provincie Utrecht and ran from March 2023 to March 2025. Throughout the project, 2M Engineering was responsible for:
- Sensor system architecture
- Embedded software and signal acquisition
- Prototyping and technical validation
- Optimizing signal accuracy and user comfort
This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing wearable sensing technologies that make a real-world impact in healthcare.
Interested in building a smart wearable?
We specialize in developing robust sensor systems for wearables in health, sports, and rehabilitation.
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