Padded, flexible encasing for body monitoring systems in fabrics

• US 10,456,080 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomer Health Tech., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bloomer Health Tech., Inc.
• Inventors: Chong Rodriguez, Alicia, Abarca Abarca, Monica Lucia
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, Travis S
• Application Number:
  US15/642,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20180317845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 439651, 439 37, 439909, 2905
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/329 Load diagnosis, e.g. cardiac stress tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/683 Means for maintaining contact with the body A61B5/6802 takes precedence

Abstract

A wearable monitoring device comprising a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to couple to at least one sensor configured to monitor a physiological condition; a first padding layer coupled to the printed circuit board proximate the first side; a second padding layer coupled to the printed circuit board proximate the second side; a first protective layer coupled to the first padding layer opposite the printed circuit board; a second protective layer coupled to the second padding layer opposite the printed circuit board, the first protective layer and the second protective layer seal together and enclose the first and second padding and the printed circuit board; a power source coupled to the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A wearable monitoring device comprising:

a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board is configured to couple to at least one sensor configured to monitor a physiological condition;

a first padding layer coupled to said printed circuit board proximate the first side, said first padding layer being selected from a group consisting of foam, silicon, gelatinous material and poly laminate foam;

a second padding layer coupled to said printed circuit board proximate the second side, said second padding layer being selected from a group consisting of foam, silicon, gelatinous material and poly laminate foam;

a first protective layer coupled to said first padding layer opposite said printed circuit board;

a second protective layer coupled to said second padding layer opposite said printed circuit board, said first protective layer and said second protective layer seal together and enclose said first padding layer and second padding layer and said printed circuit board; and

a power source coupled to said printed circuit board.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board comprises at least one microprocessor built into at least one of a flexible substrate, a semi-rigid substrate and a rigid substrate.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second protective layer are selected from a group consisting of hydrophobic material, waterproof polyurethane laminated fabric, and the like.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to take electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements are selected from a group consisting of electrocardiogram, heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, respiratory rate, temperature, body position, respiration, activity, movement, and the like.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said printed circuit board comprises a microprocessor configured to process said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements and wirelessly transmit said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements to another device selected from a group consisting of a computer, a mobile phone, a recording device and the like.

7. A garment comprising a bra having a wearable monitoring device comprising:

the wearable monitoring device coupled to said bra, such that the wearable monitoring device is proximate a V6 or VR6 location of a body, wherein said wearable monitoring device comprises a flexible printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said flexible printed circuit board comprises a microprocessor configured to process electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements and wirelessly transmit said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements to another device selected from a group consisting of a computer, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a recording device and the like;

a first protective layer coupled to said flexible printed circuit board proximate the first side;

a second protective layer coupled to said flexible printed circuit board proximate the second side;

a first padding layer coupled to said first protective layer opposite said flexible printed circuit board;

a second padding layer coupled to said second protective layer opposite said flexible printed circuit board, wherein said first protective layer and said second protective layer are selected from a group consisting of foam, silicon, gelatinous material and poly laminate foam;

said first protective layer and said second protective layer sealing together and enclosing said flexible printed circuit board; and

at least one sensor coupled to said wearable monitoring device and said garment, said at least one sensor located on said bra such that locations of said at least one sensor correspond to locations for electrophysiological measurement of the body, said at least one sensor configured to monitor a physiological condition through inputs of said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements.

8. The garment according to claim 7, further comprising a transceiver configured to receive and transmit said electrophysiological measurements and biometric measurements to said another device that comprises wireless technology for exchanging data, RF signal and the like.

9. The garment according to claim 7, wherein the garment is configured to fit over a torso of a wearer, and configured to align said at least one sensor on said body at locations selected from a group consisting of electrophysiological sensors, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, LA, RA, LL, RL, VR3, VR4, VR5 and VR6.

10. The garment according to claim 9, wherein said first and second protective layer are selected from a group consisting of hydrophobic material, waterproof polyurethane laminated fabric, and the like.

11. A process for monitoring a physiological condition comprising:

donning a garment configured as a bra having a wearable monitoring device over a portion of a wearer'"'"'s body, said wearable monitoring device being located on a side of the bra or in the cup of the bra, said wearable monitoring device comprising a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a first protective layer coupled to said printed circuit board proximate the first side;

a second protective layer coupled to said printed circuit board proximate the second side;

a first padding layer coupled to said first protective layer opposite said printed circuit board, said first padding layer being selected from a group consisting of foam, silicon, gelatinous material and poly laminate foam;

a second padding layer coupled to said second protective layer opposite said printed circuit board, said second padding layer being selected from a group consisting of foam, silicon, gelatinous material and poly laminate foam, said first protective layer and said second protective layer sealing together and enclosing said printed circuit board;

said first padding layer and said second padding layer enclosing said first protective layer and said second protective layer; and

a power source coupled to said printed circuit board;

monitoring at least one physiological condition of said wearer with at least one sensor coupled to said wearable monitoring device and said garment;

sending a signal including data of said physiological condition; and

processing said signal and transmitting said signal to a collection device.

12. The process of claim 11, further comprising:

attaching said wearable monitoring device to said garment; and

detaching said wearable monitoring device from said garment.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein said wearable monitoring device is configured as washable and non-rigid.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein said monitoring comprises obtaining a status of a human body for prevention, monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular diseases including tracking real time information of a heart, comprising at least one of a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a heart rate recovery, an electrocardiogram, a heart sound;

and a lung function including at least one of a respiratory rate, a minute ventilation, a maximal oxygen consumption, a lung sound;

a body metric, including at least one of a temperature, a body movement, and a body position.

15. The process of claim 11, further comprising:

utilizing at least one switch to change said monitoring at least one physiological condition of said wearer with at least one sensor coupled to said wearable monitoring device and said garment.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein said at least one switch is utilized to configure said wearable monitoring device to monitor selected from a group consisting of continuous monitoring, Resting ECG monitoring, Stress ECG monitoring, Event Recorder+Direct communication monitoring and the like.