Wet gel electrodes weren’t built for a full week on the chest. Yet that’s what many clinicians, researchers, and health tech companies rely on—hoping the adhesive holds and the signal doesn’t degrade too quickly.
Ambu BlueSensor electrodes have long been considered the gold standard in ECG signal quality. But for long-term HRV and ECG recordings, especially beyond 48 hours, even the best wet gel pads begin to fall short. Gel dries. Skin reacts. Adhesive fails. And the data? Well, it's compromised more often than you’d like to admit.
Nahtlos was built to fix those problems. Our dry-hybrid electrodes were engineered to hold up for 7–10 days, without sacrificing signal or comfort. And they’ve been tested by both researchers and real-world users to prove it.
Here are five reasons why Nahtlos outperforms Ambu—especially when it comes to long-term monitoring
1. Built-in Humidification Keeps Signals Stable for 10 Days
Ambu electrodes rely on a pre-loaded gel, which is great for the first few hours. Maybe even the first day. But once that gel begins to dry—a process that can start within 24–48 hours—the impedance rises and the signal quality drops. This leads to more noise, more artifacts, and more repeat measurements.
Nahtlos solves this with a smart, self-humidifying system. Each electrode contains a small internal reservoir of water. A semi-permeable membrane slowly releases water vapor into the textile interface over time—just enough to maintain optimal moisture at the skin-electrode contact point.
Think of it as artificial sweating, without the mess. Even if the patient doesn’t sweat, Nahtlos keeps the signal clean.
“We created a dry electrode with artificial unification. It gives the right conditions to keep signal quality like a gel electrode—even after 7 or 10 days.”
— José Näf, Co-founder & CEO of Nahtlos
2. Smart Moisture Regulation = No Leaks, No Overhydration
Ambu’s gel can leak or smear under pressure—especially when used with movement or compression garments. That leakage can spread the conductive material unevenly, leading to false signals or poor contact.
Nahtlos electrodes don’t flood the skin. They release moisture only when needed, based on partial pressure balance. If the patient is sweating, the system detects it and holds back additional vapor. If the skin is dry, it gradually humidifies it—keeping impedance stable and signal loss at bay.
“It’s like having a built-in climate control system in the electrode.”
This level of control means no messy gel, no crusty adhesive after day three, and no signal drift due to drying or overhydration.
3. Gel-Like Signal Quality – Without the Gel
Ambu’s immediate signal quality is strong, no doubt. That’s why it's still used in short-term ECG diagnostics. But the challenge in long-term monitoring isn’t just initial performance—it’s how the signal holds over days of sleep, showering, movement, and heat.
Nahtlos electrodes use a silver-coated textile as the conductive layer. When combined with the vapor system, it maintains gel-level impedance—without any sticky mess. The signal remains stable over 7–10 days, even with sweating or minor motion.
In fact, Nahtlos was benchmarked in clinical testing against Ambu in a hospital setting in St. Gallen. The outcome? Our signal matched or exceeded Ambu in long-duration scenarios. And we developed our own internal signal quality metrics, based on algorithmic analysis and cardiologist visual validation, to verify it.
4. Skin-Friendly Materials That Actually Breathe
Long-term monitoring isn’t just a test of technology—it’s a test of human patience. Especially when traditional electrodes cause itching, rashes, or even blisters.
Ambu uses occlusive materials and strong adhesives to keep their electrodes in place. While this helps hold signal early on, it traps moisture, overheats the skin, and often leads to maceration or allergic reactions—especially in warm environments or under compression garments.
Nahtlos takes a different approach.
Our electrodes are made from breathable, biocompatible materials—both the adhesive and the textile interface. This lets the skin breathe, minimizes irritation, and maintains comfort even across 10-day measurements.
Patients can wear them while sleeping, exercising, or going about daily life. They don’t need to worry about painful removal or sticky residues.
5. Silver-Coated Textile Conductor: Durable, Skin-Safe, Consistent
What’s touching the skin—and conducting the signal—matters.
Ambu relies on a traditional gel layer, which is 60–70 years old as a technology. Once it begins drying or spreading, the signal pathway becomes unreliable. And for sensitive users, the gel chemicals themselves can cause inflammation or allergic responses.
Nahtlos uses a precision-woven textile, coated in skin-safe silver. It’s soft, lightweight, and tested for long-term biocompatibility. The textile design allows flexibility with body movement while maintaining a reliable signal pathway—even through high-humidity, heat, or extended wear.
This isn’t just better for data—it’s better for the skin.
“We tested dozens of materials over years. Our final conductor is silver-coated polyester—chosen for comfort, signal reliability, and safety.”
— José Näf, Co-founder & CEO of Nahtlos
Final Thoughts: The Electrode Built for the Full 10 Days
Ambu got us here. Their gel electrodes were the best choice—for decades. But for modern, long-duration ECG and HRV monitoring, they’re showing their limits.
Nahtlos was built for this.
With a self-humidifying core, breathable backing, skin-safe adhesives, and gel-free comfort, it’s a leap forward for professionals who demand reliable signal without constant replacement or patient complaints.
If you're tired of redoing electrodes halfway through a study—or losing data to signal drift—it's time to upgrade.