Heart activity sensor structure

• US 10,070,798 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Korkala, Seppo, Pekonen, Elias, Kemppainen, Juhani, Rytky, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/274,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600382, 600384, 600386, 600388-393, 600508-509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A heart activity sensor structure includes a flexible textile substrate, and at least two electrodes with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate and configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity. The heart activity sensor also includes an electrostatic discharge shield applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity.

Claims

1. A heart activity sensor structure, comprising:

a flexible textile substrate;

at least two electrodes with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes are applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate and configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity;

an electrostatic discharge shield applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity, the electrostatic discharge shield comprising conductive material, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield covers at least an area of the heart activity sensor structure in which the at least two electrodes and all regions between the at least two electrodes are disposed; and

an electronics module integrated as part of the heart activity sensor structure, coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer, the electronics module comprising a casing covering the electronics module, the casing comprising an electrically non-conducting outer surface and electrically conducting inner film, the electrically conducting inner film being electrically coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield, wherein the flexible textile substrate comprises a base for integrally mounting the electronics module, wherein the base comprises an electrically conducting periphery element coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield, wherein the electronics module is configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer, wherein a first part of the electrostatic discharge shield is on one side of the electronics module and a second part of the electrostatic discharge shield is on an other side of the electronics module, wherein the electronics module comprises a casing having a conducting structure configured to cover the electronics module and electrically connect the first part of the electrostatic discharge shield to the second part of the electrostatic discharge shield.

2. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, comprising at least the following plurality of layers:

a first layer comprising the at least two electrodes and configured to be placed against the skin of the exerciser;

a second layer arranged on top of the first layer and comprising the flexible textile substrate; and

a third layer arranged at least partially on top of the second layer and comprising the electrostatic discharge shield.

3. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, comprising at least the following plurality of layers:

a first layer comprising the at least two electrodes and configured to be placed against the skin of the exerciser;

a third layer arranged on top of the first layer and comprising the electrostatic discharge shield; and

a second layer arranged on top of the third layer and comprising the flexible textile substrate.

4. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield covers at least the area of the heart activity sensor structure in which the at least two electrodes are located.

5. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield is electrically insulated from the flexible textile substrate and from the at least two electrodes.

6. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 5, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield comprises at least one layer made of an electrically non-conducting material which provides for the electrical insulation.

7. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, wherein at least one location in which the at least one grounding element is configured to contact the skin is at the at least one end of the flexible textile substrate.

8. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a conducting string structure for coupling at least one grounding element and the electrostatic discharge shield, wherein the conducting string structure penetrates the flexible textile substrate.

9. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics module detachably coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield comprises at least one through-hole in order to enable the coupling between the at least two electrodes and the electronics module.

10. A method for manufacturing a heart activity sensor structure, comprising:

forming a flexible textile substrate;

applying at least two electrodes on one side of the flexible textile substrate with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity;

applying an electrostatic discharge shield on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity, the electrostatic discharge shield comprising conductive material, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield covers at least an area of the heart activity sensor structure in which the at least two electrodes and all regions between the at least two electrodes are disposed; and

coupling first and second grounding elements to the electrostatic discharge shield and arranging the first and second grounding elements such that the at least two electrodes are situated between the first and second grounding elements, the first and second grounding elements configured to be placed against the skin of the exerciser and to conduct, together with the electrostatic discharge shield, electrostatic discharges away from the at least two electrodes, wherein the flexible textile substrate comprises a base for integrally mounting an electronics module, wherein the base comprises an electrically conducting periphery element coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield, wherein the electronics module is configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer, wherein a first part of the electrostatic discharge shield is on the other side of the electronics module and a second part of the electrostatic discharge shield is on an other side of the electronics module, wherein the electronics module comprises a casing having a conducting structure configured to cover the electronics module and electrically connect the first part of the electrostatic discharge shield to the second part of the electrostatic discharge shield.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the flexible textile substrate, the at least two electrodes, the electrostatic discharge shield are each comprised in a dedicated layer, and the method comprises attaching the layers on top of each other.