Bioelectric sensor device and methods

• US 10,368,766 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gillberg, Jeffrey, Ghosh, Subham
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US15/095,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20160220142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/683 Means for maintaining contact with the body A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68335 including release sheets or liners

Abstract

Various embodiments of a bioelectric sensor device for sensing bioelectric data from a human body are disclosed. The device can include a flexible substrate, a plurality of sensors arranged in a sensor array on a sensor array portion of the substrate, an electrically conductive network located on the substrate, and a plurality of lines of weakness formed in the sensor array portion of the substrate. In one or more embodiments, each line of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the sensor array portion of the substrate along a separation line that extends between at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors. The device can also include a left reference electrode proximate a distal end of a left reference electrode arm of the substrate and a right reference electrode proximate a distal end of a right reference electrode arm of the substrate.

Claims

1. A bioelectric sensor device for sensing bioelectric data from a human body, the device comprising:

a flexible dielectric substrate comprising a first major surface, a second major surface, a sensor array portion comprising a center, and a contact array arm extending from the sensor array portion to a distal end thereof;

a plurality of sensors arranged in a sensor array on the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense bioelectric data when in contact with skin;

an electrically conductive network located on the substrate, wherein the electrically conductive network comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths, wherein each electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths extends from one sensor of the plurality of sensors to a contact array on the contact array arm, wherein the contact array comprises a plurality of contacts on the contact array arm proximate the distal end of the contact array arm;

a plurality of lines of weakness formed in the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the sensor array portion of the substrate along a separation line to remove a sensor of the plurality of sensors from the bioelectric sensor device; and

a line of weakness disposed in a portion of the contact array arm that intersects an electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths, wherein the line of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the contact array arm such that the conductive path of the plurality of conductive paths that is intersected by the line of weakness is disconnected.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness intersects an electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor array portion of the substrate comprises a left edge, a right edge, a top edge between the left edge and the right edge, and a bottom edge between the left edge and the right edge, and wherein a first line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion, and further wherein a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first line of weakness and the left edge or the right edge of the sensor array portion such that separation of the substrate along the first line of weakness removes the first sensor from the device.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein a second line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion, and further wherein a second sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the second line of weakness and the first line of weakness such that separation of the substrate along the second line of weakness removes the second sensor from the device.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein a third line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion, and further wherein a third sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the third line of weakness and the second line of weakness such that separation of the substrate along the third line of weakness removes the third sensor from the device.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein a fourth line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness such that separation of the substrate along the first, second, and fourth lines of weakness removes the second sensor of the plurality of sensors from the device without removing the first sensor and wherein an electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths that extends from the first sensor to the contact array remains after separation of the second sensor.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein a first intersecting line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the left edge and the center of the sensor array portion, wherein any of the lines of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness that extend between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion between the left edge and the center of the sensor array portion intersect the first intersecting line of weakness.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first intersecting line of weakness and the top edge of the sensor array portion, and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first intersecting line of weakness and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein a second intersecting line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the right edge and the center of the sensor array portion, wherein any of the lines of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness that extend between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion between the right edge and the center of the sensor array portion intersect the second intersecting line of weakness.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the second intersecting line of weakness and the top edge of the sensor array portion, and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the second intersecting line of weakness and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion.

11. A device according to claim 3, wherein the contact array arm extends from the bottom edge of the sensor array portion.

12. A device according to claim 3, wherein each electrically conductive path corresponding to at least two adjacent sensors comprises a first conductive path extending from the center of the sensor array portion towards one of the right or left edges and a second conductive path extending from the first conductive path extending towards one of the top or bottom edges.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the flexible dielectric substrate is discontinuous between the at least two adjacent sensors.

14. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one alignment marker positioned on the substrate at the center of the sensor array portion.

15. A bioelectric sensor device for sensing bioelectric data from a human body, the device comprising:

a flexible dielectric substrate comprising a first major surface, a second major surface, a sensor array portion comprising a center, and a contact array arm extending from the sensor array portion to a distal end thereof, wherein the sensor array portion of the substrate comprises a left edge, a right edge, a top edge between the left edge and the right edge, and a bottom edge between the left edge and the right edge;

a plurality of sensors arranged in a sensor array on the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense bioelectric data when in contact with skin;

an electrically conductive network located on the substrate, wherein the electrically conductive network comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths, wherein each electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths extends from one sensor of the plurality of sensors to a contact array on the contact array arm, wherein each electrically conductive path corresponding to at least two adjacent sensors comprises a first conductive path extending between the respective sensor and the center of the sensor array portion; and

a plurality of lines of weakness formed in the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the sensor array portion of the substrate along a separation line to remove a sensor of the plurality of sensors from the bioelectric sensor device, and further wherein at least one line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness intersects an electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths;

wherein an electrically conductive path corresponding to a sensor of the sensor array comprises a first conductive path extending from the center of the sensor array portion towards one of the right or left edges, and wherein a first line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion and intersects with the first conductive path.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein an electrically conductive path corresponding to another sensor of the sensor array comprises a second conductive path extending from the center of the sensor array portion towards one of the right or left edges, and wherein the first line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion and intersects with both the first conductive path and the second conductive path.

17. A bioelectric sensor device for sensing bioelectric data from a human body, the device comprising:

a flexible dielectric substrate comprising a first major surface, a second major surface, a sensor array portion, and a contact array arm extending from the sensor array portion to a distal end thereof, wherein the sensor array portion comprises a center, a left edge, a right edge, a top edge between the left edge and the right edge, and a bottom edge between the left edge and the right edge;

a plurality of sensors arranged in a sensor array on the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense bioelectric data when in contact with skin;

an electrically conductive network located on the substrate, wherein the electrically conductive network comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths, wherein each electrically conductive path of the plurality of electrically conductive paths extends from one sensor of the plurality of sensors to a contact array on the contact array arm, wherein the contact array comprises a plurality of contacts on the contact array arm proximate the distal end of the contact array arm; and

a plurality of lines of weakness formed in the sensor array portion of the substrate, wherein each line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness is configured to enhance separation of the sensor array portion of the substrate along a separation line to remove a sensor of the plurality of sensors from the bioelectric sensor device;

wherein a first line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion, and further wherein a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first line of weakness and the left edge or the right edge of the sensor array portion such that separation of the substrate along the first line of weakness removes the first sensor from the device, and further wherein a first intersecting line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the left edge and the center of the sensor array portion, wherein any of the lines of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness that extend between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion between the left edge and the center of the sensor array portion intersect the first intersecting line of weakness.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first intersecting line of weakness and the top edge of the sensor array portion, and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the first intersecting line of weakness and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein a second intersecting line of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness extends between the right edge and the center of the sensor array portion, wherein any of the lines of weakness of the plurality of lines of weakness that extend between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion between the right edge and the center of the sensor array portion intersect the second intersecting line of weakness.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the second intersecting line of weakness and the top edge of the sensor array portion, and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is located between the second intersecting line of weakness and the bottom edge of the sensor array portion.

21. A device according to claim 17, wherein each electrically conductive path corresponding to at least two adjacent sensors comprises a first conductive path extending from the center of the sensor array portion towards one of the right or left edges and a second conductive path extending from the first conductive path extending towards one of the top or bottom edges.