Innovative Wearable Fabric for Flexible X-ray Detection and Imaging

Since its discovery in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen, X-ray technology has become a cornerstone of modern medicine, used for everything from dental imaging and fracture diagnosis to early detection of breast cancer. Traditional X-ray detectors primarily rely on inorganic scintillators, which are rigid and lack flexibility, often requiring patients to adopt awkward positions to fit the imaging equipment. This rigidity presents challenges in applying X-ray technology to wearable devices or flexible applications.

Recent advancements have focused on creating scintillating materials that are not only efficient but also durable and flexible. However, previous flexible scintillators typically suffered from reduced efficiency or limited durability. Addressing these issues, a team led by Li Xu at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a groundbreaking all-inorganic metafabric scintillator that combines high performance with exceptional flexibility.

This innovative fabric, termed X-Wear, is produced using a process called sol-gel electrospinning. This technique employs an electric field to spin a gel crystalline mixture into ultra-fine inorganic fibers, transforming traditional brittle scintillators into a breathable, conformal fabric capable of being woven into various shapes and sizes. The resulting metafabric exhibits a scintillation output ten times higher than previous polymer-based flexible scintillators, making it highly effective in converting X-ray photons into visible light for imaging.

The core principle lies in how radiation interacts with the fabric: high-energy X-rays excite electrons within the scintillator material, which then relax and emit visible photons. These photons are captured by a photodetector, converted into electrical signals, and processed into images. The high atomic number (Z-number) elements in the fabric enhance this process, ensuring efficient X-ray to light conversion.

Although still in the proof-of-concept stage, the X-Wear fabric demonstrates promising potential for use in wearable X-ray imaging devices, mobile health monitoring, radiation detection in hazardous environments, and integrated radiation shielding in comfortable clothing. Future developments aim to incorporate flexible photodetectors and evaluate safety for skin contact and large-scale manufacturing affordability.

This technology could transform medical diagnostics and radiation monitoring by enabling portable, comfortable, and highly efficient X-ray systems that conform to the human body or other surfaces. Continued research will determine its viability for widespread adoption and real-world applications.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-wearable-ray-fabric-flexible-alternative.html