Sensors for inductive plethysmographic monitoring applications and apparel using same

• US 20060122528A1
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Gal, Yoav
• Granted Patent: US 8,034,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/06 Patterned fabrics or articles open-work fabrics D04B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/18 incorporating elastic threads

Abstract

This invention includes improved IP sensors that both have improved sensitivity, performance, and other properties and are multifunctional. The improved IP sensors have IP sensor conductors with waveforms having legs that are substantially parallel throughout the operating range of stretch. The multifunctional IP sensors include, in addition to IP sensors, accessory conductors, additional sensors, and other compatible modules. This inventions also includes embodiments of apparel incorporating the improved IP sensors. This apparel can range from band-like to shirt-like, and so forth, and include one or more IP sensors sensitive to expansions and contractions of underlying regions of a monitored subject.

Claims

1. A physiological sensor for a monitoring a subject comprising:

a supporting elastic material adapted to be arranged on a body part of the monitored subject and, when so arranged, stretchable through an operating range of stretch by expansion and contraction of the underlying body part;

at least one sensor conductor operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material,

wherein each unit wave is configured to have leg portions that are substantially parallel and that remain substantially parallel throughout the operating range of stretch.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the leg portions deviate approximately ±

2°

or less from parallelism throughout the operating range of stretch.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein, when the sensor is not stretched, the leg portions converge together from crest of a unit wave to the base of the unit wave.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the unit waves of the sensor conductor have a spatial frequency greater than approximately 5 per in. when the supporting elastic is stretched at less than the operating range of stretch.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein the unit waves of the sensor conductor have a spatial frequency greater than approximately 6 per in. when the supporting elastic is stretched at less than the operating range of stretch.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the sensor conductor comprises wire of 27 AWG (America Wire Gauge) or higher.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor conductor changes as the supporting elastic is stretched throughout the operating range of stretch.

8. The sensor of claim 7 wherein the electrical characteristic is substantially free of hysteresis over a plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation comprises a period of monitoring the subject,

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the period of monitoring the subject is less than one hour, or less than twelve hours, or less than twenty-four hours.

11. The sensor of claim 7 wherein the electrical characteristic comprises an AC impedance of the sensor conductor.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein the impedance is substantially an inductive impedance.

13. The sensor of claim 7 wherein the electrical characteristic depends substantially linearly on the stretch in a substantial portion of the operating range of stretch.

14. The sensor of claim 7 wherein the IP conductor is affixed to the supporting elastic so that, when the IP sensor is arranged on the body part, the electrical characteristic is substantially free of hysteresis over a plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation.

15. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising at least one accessory conductor affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a spatial frequency less than the spatial frequency of the unit waves of the sensor conductor.

16. The sensor of claim 15 wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a spatial frequency less than approximately 3 per in.

17. The sensor of claim 15 wherein the unit waves have a smooth pattern without substantially parallel leg portions.

18. The sensor of claim 15 wherein the accessory conductor comprises micro-coax.

19. The sensor of claim 15 further comprising two or more sensor conductors and four of more accessory conductors.

20. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the sensor conductors are positioned between the accessory conductors.

21. A physiological sensor for a monitoring a subject comprising:

a supporting elastic material adapted to be arranged on a body part of the monitored subject and, when so arranged, stretchable through an operating range of stretch by expansion and contraction of the underlying body part;

at least two sensor conductors, both sensor conductors operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material,

wherein each unit wave is configured to have legs that are substantially parallel and that remain substantially parallel throughout an operating range of stretch, and

wherein each sensor conductor is operably linked to at least one conductor external to the supporting elastic, and

at least one bridging connection between two sensor conductors so that the bridged sensor conductors are electrically continuous as seen from the external conductors.

22. The sensor of claim 21 wherein the leg portions deviate approximately ±

2°

or less from parallelism throughout the operating range of stretch.

23. The sensor of claim 21 further comprising:

sensor such conductors, all sensor conductors operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material,

wherein two of the sensor conductors are operably linked to conductors external to the supporting elastic, and

at least three bridging connection between pairs of the four sensor conductors arranged so that the bridged sensor conductors are electrically continuous as seen from the external conductors.

24. The sensor of claim 21 wherein the unit waves of the sensor conductor have a spatial frequency greater than approximately 5 per in. when the supporting elastic is stretched at less than the operating range of stretch.

25. The sensor of claim 21 further comprising one or more additional sensors affixed to the supporting elastic, wherein at least one of the additional sensors is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a body-temperature thermometer, an ECG electrode, an accelerometer, a sensor for electroencephalogram signals, a sensor for electrooculogram signals, a sensor for electromyogram signals, and a antenna for receiving/transmitting signals.

26. The sensor of claim 21 further comprising at least one accessory conductor affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a smooth pattern and a spatial frequency less than the spatial frequency of the sensor conductor.

27. The sensor of claim 26 wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a spatial frequency less than approximately 3 per in.

28. The sensor of claim 26 wherein at least one accessory conductor is operably linked to at least one conductor external to the supporting elastic.

29. The sensor of claim 28 further comprising one or more additional sensors affixed to the supporting elastic, wherein one or the accessory conductors is operably linked to an external conductor is also operably linked to an additional sensor so that signals from the additional sensors are conveyed to/from the external conductors.

30. The sensor of claim 28 further comprising:

a plurality of additional sensors; and

a plurality of accessory conductors, each accessory conductor operably linked to an additional sensor and to an external conductor so that signals from the additional sensors are conveyed to/from the external conductors.

31. The sensor of claim 21 wherein the elastic material comprises a woven material, and/or a knitted material, and/or a crocheted material, and/or a braided material, and/or an extruded material.

32. The sensor of claim 21 wherein at least one sensor conductor is operably linked to an external conductor through a solder joint that is enclosed by a protecting sleeve.

33. A physiological sensor for a monitoring a subject comprising:

a supporting elastic material adapted to be arranged on a body part of the monitored subject and, when so arranged, stretchable through an operating range of stretch by expansion and contraction of the underlying body part;

at least one sensor conductor operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material,

wherein each unit wave is configured to have leg portions that are substantially parallel and that remain substantially parallel throughout the operating range of stretch, and

wherein the leg portions extend between the faces of the supporting elastic and in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the faces of the supporting elastic.

34. The sensor of claim 33 further comprising at least one such second sensor conductor operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, wherein the leg portions substantially parallel to the faces of the supporting elastic.

35. The sensor of claim 33 further comprising at least one such second sensor conductor operably affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, wherein the leg portions are angled to extend in a direction have a component perpendicular between the surfaces of the supporting elastic and a component parallel along the surfaces of the supporting elastic.

39. The sensor of claim 35 wherein the electrical characteristic is substantially free of hysteresis over a plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation.

40. The sensor of claim 39 wherein the plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation comprises a period of monitoring the subject,

41. The sensor of claim 40 wherein the period of monitoring the subject is less than one hour, or less than twelve hours, or less than twenty-four hours.

42. The sensor of claim 35 wherein the electrical characteristic depends substantially linearly on the stretch in a substantial portion of the operating range of stretch.

43. The sensor of claim 35 wherein the IP conductor is affixed to the supporting elastic so that, when the IP sensor is arranged on the body part, the electrical characteristic is substantially free of hysteresis over a plurality of cycles of stretching and relaxation.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein measuring further comprising measuring across at least two external leads which are operably linked to the sensor conductor at at least two different locations.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein measuring comprises applying an excitation signal to the sensor conductor.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the excitation signal possess a frequency determined at least in part by the stretch of the sensor conductor, and wherein measuring further comprises measuring the frequency of the excitation signal.

47. The method of claim 35 further comprising arranging a supporting elastic having two such sensor conductors so that one sensor conductor arranged on a left lateral part of the rib cage of the subject and the second conductor arranged on a right lateral part of the rib cage of the subject,

measuring an electrical characteristic of the left rib-cage sensor conductor and an electrical characteristic of the right rib-cage sensor conductor, and

determining differential lung function by comparing difference between the two measured electrical characteristics.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising determining total lung function by cumulating the two measured electrical characteristics.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising arranging a supporting elastic having two such sensor conductors so that one sensor conductor arranged on a left lateral part of the abdomen of the subject and the second conductor arranged on a right lateral part of the abdomen of the subject,

measuring an electrical characteristic of the left abdomen sensor conductor and an electrical characteristic of the right abdomen sensor conductor, and

determining differential lung function by comparing the measurements of the two rib-cage electrical characteristics and the measurements of the two abdomen electrical characteristics.

36. A method of physiologically monitoring a subject comprising:

arranging a supporting elastic material on a body part of the monitored subject,

wherein the supporting elastic material comprises at least one sensor conductor operably affixed in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material,

wherein each unit wave is configured to have legs that are substantially parallel and that remain substantially parallel when the sensor conductor is stretched through an operating range of stretch by expansion and contraction of the underlying body part

measuring an electrical characteristic of the sensor conductor which changes as the supporting elastic is stretched throughout the operating range of stretch and from which conductor length can be determined.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the electrical characteristic comprises an AC impedance of the sensor conductor.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the impedance is substantially an inductive impedance.

50. A physiological monitoring apparel to be work by a monitored subject comprising:

a garment comprising a supporting elastic material; and

at least one sensor conductor having a pattern comprising repeated unit waves and operably affixed to the supporting elastic material such that, when the garment is worn by the subject, the supporting elastic material and the sensor conductor are arranged on a body part of the monitored subject in a manner so as to be stretched and relaxed through an operating range of stretch by expansion and contraction of the underlying body part,

wherein each unit wave is configured to have legs that are substantially parallel and that remain substantially parallel when stretched through the operating range of stretch, and

measuring circuitry that measures an electrical impedance of the sensor conductor by applying an excitation signal to the sensor conductor, the electrical impedance changing as the supporting elastic is stretched throughout the operating range of stretch and from which conductor length can be determined.

51. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the garment is band-like.

52. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the garment is shirt-like.

53. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the garment is sized and configured to be worn on a body part comprising one or more of a thorax, an abdomen, an arm, a leg, and a neck.

54. The sensor of claim 50 wherein the unit waves of the sensor conductor have a spatial frequency greater than approximately 5 per in. when the supporting elastic is stretched at less than the operating range of stretch.

55. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the elastic material comprises a woven material, and/or a knitted material, and/or a crocheted material, and/or a braided material, and/or an extruded material.

56. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the measuring circuitry comprises

an oscillator that generates the excitation signal at a frequency determined at least in part by the stretch of the sensor conductor;

and

a frequency measuring circuit that measures the frequency of the oscillator signal.

57. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the electrical characteristic depends substantially linearly on the stretch throughout the operating range of stretch.

58. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the measuring circuitry is carried in or on the garment.

59. The apparel of claim 50 wherein the supporting elastic material further comprises two such sensor conductors, one sensor conductor arranged on a left lateral part of the rib cage of the subject and the second conductor arranged on a right lateral part of the rib cage of the subject, and

wherein the measuring circuitry further comprises measuring an electrical impedance of the left rib-cage sensor conductor and an electrical impedance of the right rib-cage sensor conductor.

60. The apparel of claim 59 wherein the supporting elastic material further comprises two such sensor conductors, one sensor conductor arranged on a left lateral part of the abdomen of the subject and the second conductor arranged on a right lateral part of the abdomen of the subject, and further comprising, and

wherein the measuring circuitry further comprises measuring an electrical impedance of the left abdomen sensor conductor and an electrical impedance of the right abdomen sensor conductor.

61. The apparel of claim 50 further comprising one or more additional sensors, wherein at least one of the additional sensors is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a body-temperature thermometer, an ECG electrode, an accelerometer, a sensor for electroencephalogram signals, a sensor for electrooculogram signals, and a sensor for electromyogram signals.

62. The apparel of claim 61 where at least one of the additional sensors is mounted on the supporting elastic and/or on the garment

63. The apparel of claim 50 further comprising at least one accessory conductor affixed to the elastic material in a pattern comprising repeated unit waves that stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a spatial frequency less than the spatial frequency of the unit waves of the sensor conductor.

64. The apparel of claim 63 wherein the unit waves of the accessory conductor have a spatial frequency less than approximately 3 per in.

65. The apparel of claim 63 wherein the accessory conductor comprises micro-coax.

66. The apparel of claim 63 wherein at least one accessory conductor is operably linked to at least one conductor external to the supporting elastic and conveys signals to/from the external conductor.

67. The apparel of claim 66 further comprising one or more additional sensors affixed to the supporting elastic, wherein an accessory conductor that is operably linked to an external conductor is also operably linked to an additional sensor so that a signal from the additional sensor is conveyed to/from the external conductor.

68. The apparel of claim 50 further comprising:

a plurality of additional sensors; and

a plurality of accessory conductors, each accessory conductor operably linked to an additional sensor and to an external conductor so that signals from the additional sensors are conveyed to/from the external conductors.

69. The apparel of claim 50 further comprising two such sensor conductors, wherein each sensor conductor is operably linked to at least one conductor external to the supporting elastic, and

wherein at least one bridging connection between two sensor conductors so that the bridged sensor conductors are electrically continuous as seen from the external conductors, and

wherein the two such sensor conductors extend substantially around a body part except for an insubstantial gap.

70. A method of making a physiological sensor comprising:

setting up a fabric making machine, wherein the setup comprises instructions for including a plurality of elastic threads and instructions for the disposition and attachment of a plurality of conductors to the fabric; and

making the fabric by the fabric making machine that has been so setup,

wherein the fabric made comprises at least one first conductor that is operably affixed to the fabric in a pattern comprising repeated first unit waves, the first unit waves having leg portions that are substantially parallel and stretch and contract with the supporting elastic material, and

wherein the fabric made comprises at least one second conductor is operably affixed to the fabric in a pattern comprising repeated second unit waves.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein, when the fabric made is not substantially stretched, the first unit waves have a spatial frequency greater than approximately 5 per in. and the second unit waves have a spatial frequency less than approximately 3 per in.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the leg portions of the first unit waves converge together from crest of a unit wave to the base of the unit wave when the fabric made is not substantially stretched.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein at least one conductor comprises wire of 27 AWG (America Wire Gauge) and at least one other conductor comprises a micro coax.