Textile electrode connections

A knitted textile, comprising:

• a textile electrode;
• a conductive trace that terminates in a knitted extension, the conductive trace comprising one or more electrical conductors twisted with an insulator, the knitted extension configured to overlay a portion of the textile electrode and includes an ablated area where the insulator has been removed;
• conductive epoxy, located at an intersection of the ablated area and the textile electrode, configured to provide an electrical connection between the conductive trace and the textile electrode;
• and
• adhesive film, applied to a first side of the knitted textile around and over the ablated area and the conductive epoxy and on a second side of the knitted textile opposite the adhesive film applied to the first side, configured to provide a water-tight encapsulation of the electrical connection when cured.

A method for creating an electrical connection in a knitted textile, comprising:

• intarsia knitting a first layer comprising a textile electrode and a conductive trace, the conductive trace comprising one or more conducting wires twisted with an insulator, the conductive trace terminating in a knitted extension forming a second layer and overlaying a portion of the textile electrode;
• ablating a portion of the knitted extension by removing the insulator from the ablated portion;
• applying a silver epoxy to the ablated portion, the silver epoxy providing an electrical connection between the conductive trace and the textile electrode;
• and
• applying an adhesive film to a first side of the knitted textile around and over the ablated area and the silver epoxy, and to a second side of the knitted textile opposite the adhesive film applied to the first side, the adhesive film providing a water-tight encapsulation of the electrical connection.