CONTACT SENSORS

• US 20090203984A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosnes Limited
• Original Assignee: Smartlife Technology Limited
• Inventors: Ramgulam, Rajcoomar Baboo, Beatty, Paul Charles William, Griffiths, Adrian Keith, Hurley, William, Dias, Tilak Kithsiri, Mitcham, Kimberley
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/265 containing silver or silver chloride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/27 Conductive fabrics or textiles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/18 elastic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02 Cross-sectional features for three-dimensional features D10B2403/033
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]

Abstract

A non-invasive sensor has a contact membrane (6,16) and a cover membrane (2,12), the cover membrane being adapted for extension of a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it. The contact membrane will normally be attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, and a spacing material (8,20) can be interposed between the membranes to achieve this object. The cover membrane may extend over a support element (10), with the contact membrane overlaying and spaced from the other face of the support element by spacing material.

Claims

1. A non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at a body surface, comprising a contact membrane and a cover membrane, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, the cover membrane being adapted for extension over a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it.

2. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the cover membrane is elastic relative to the contact membrane such that the contact membrane is elastically unstretched when the cover membrane is extended.

3. A sensor according to claim 2 including a support element over which the cover membrane is stretched, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the element.

4. A sensor according to claim 3 wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane by elastic sections.

5. A sensor according to claim 4 wherein the elastic sections comprise elastomeric yarns.

6. A sensor according to claim 4 wherein the elastic sections are knitted.

7. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the contact membrane and the cover membrane are knitted.

8. A sensor according to claim 7 wherein the cover membrane is a knitted fabric comprising elastomeric yarns.

16. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane substantially continuously around its periphery.

17. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the space between the contact membrane and the cover membrane is occupied by a filler material.

18. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the contact membrane forms an electrode.

19. A sensor according to claim 18 wherein the electrode is a multi-point electrode.

20. A sensor according to claim 19 wherein the multi-points comprise particles of silver chloride at the surface of the membrane.

21. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the contact membrane is a textile structure having conductive yarns.

22. A sensor according to claim 18 wherein the contact membrane is a knitted layer comprising electrically conductive yarn.

23. A sensor according to claim 22 wherein the contact membrane comprises multiple contact points at the yarn cross over points of stitches.

24. A sensor according to claim 22 wherein the conductive yarns comprise one of silver, gold or platinum.

27. A material incorporating a sensor according to claim 1.

28. A material according to claim 22 including at least one conductor extending from the sensor to an edge of the material.

29. A knitted material according to claim 22.

30. A garment comprising a material according claim 27.

9. A non-invasive sensor comprising a cover membrane extending over one face of a support element;

a contact membrane overlaying the other face of the support element and spaced from the support element by a spacing material, the contact membrane being substantially inextensible and attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the support element.

10. A non-invasive sensor according to claim 9 wherein the support element is planar.

11. A non-invasive sensor according to claim 9 wherein the support element is curved with its one face being convex.

12. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the cover membrane is stretched over the one face of the support element.

13. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the contact element is attached to the cover membrane by elastic sections.

14. A sensor according to claim 13 wherein the elastic sections are fabric comprising elastomeric yarns.

15. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the cover and contact membranes are knitted.

35. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane substantially continuously around its periphery.

36. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the space between the contact membrane and the cover membrane is occupied by a filler material.

37. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the contact membrane forms an electrode.

38. A material incorporating a sensor according to claim 9.

40. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the contact membrane is a textile structure having conductive yarns.

25. A non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at a body surface comprising a knitted fabric having a contact side and a cover side, with an increased stitch density on the contact side relative to the cover side over an area thereof which forms a convex surface on the contact side, the fabric being adapted for extension over a body surface to project said area of the contact side against a body surface beneath it.

26. A non-invasive sensor according to claim 25 wherein the area of increased stitch density comprises conductive yarns.

39. A material incorporating a sensor according to claim 25.

31. A method of monitoring physical movements of a body surface comprising attaching to the body a non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at a body surface, comprising a contact membrane and a cover membrane, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, the cover membrane being adapted for extension over a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it, and monitoring its deformation in response to movements of the body surface.

33. A method according to claim 31 wherein the body surface is a human body surface, and the sensor is part of a garment on the human body.

32. A method of monitoring electrical properties at a body surface comprising attaching to the body a non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at a body surface, comprising a contact membrane and a cover membrane, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, the cover membrane being adapted for extension over a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it wherein the contact membrane forms an electrode, and monitoring signals from the sensor generated in response to changing electrical properties at the body surface.

41. A method according to claim 32 wherein the body surface is a human body surface, and the sensor is part of a garment on the human body.

34. A method of monitoring physical movements of a body surface comprising attaching a non-invasive sensor comprising a cover membrane extending over one face of a support element;

a contact membrane overlaying the other face of the support element and spaced from the support element by a spacing material, the contact membrane being substantially inextensible and attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the support element, and monitoring its deformation in response to movements of the body surface.

42. A method according to claim 34 wherein the body surface is a human body surface, and the sensor is part of a garment on the human body.