BELT WITH SENSORS

• US 20090229039A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Drager Medical AG & Co KG (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: KUCK, Kai, SCHMITT, Steffen, SCHRADER, Cornelia, HANSMANN, Hans-Ullrich
• Granted Patent: US 9,039,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/338
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1254 for the lower part of the body A41D13/0506 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 9/00 Belts, girdles, or waistbands for trousers or skirts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A stretchable belt (1) provided for medical purposes for use on the body of a patient has at least one sensor (8) for detecting at least one parameter of the patient'"'"'s body. An adaptation to different body sizes and motions of the patient is provided without separate length adjusting members being necessary or without the need to stock different belt sizes. Furthermore, the belt is able to be manufactured at a low cost and makes possible simple and reliable handling, even for patients. The belt material (1) has at least one material area (2) with a lower spring rate in the longitudinal extension than at least one material area (3) with a higher spring rate of the belt (1).

Claims

1. A stretchable belt for medical purposes for use on the body of a patient, the belt comprising:

a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of the patient'"'"'s body;

belt material including a first material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a lower spring rate than a second material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a higher spring rate.

2. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extension of the first material area with the lower spring rate and/or the second material area with the higher spring rate is at least 0.5 cm.

3. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extension of the first material area with the lower spring rate and/or the second material area with the higher spring rate is at least 1 cm.

4. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first material area with the lower spring rate is embodied with at least one perforation of the belt material.

5. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a blocking means for deactivating the first material area with the lower spring rate.

6. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first material area with the lower spring rate is activated by removing the blocking means.

7. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 6, wherein the blocking means is an adhesive tape and/or a thread.

8. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 4, wherein the at least one perforation can be widened in order to obtain a lower spring rate of the first material area with the perforation.

9. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein a perforation can be made on the belt in order to obtain the first material area with the lower spring rate.

10. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring rate of the first material area with the lower spring rate differs from the spring rate of the second material area with the higher spring rate by at least 10%.

11. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring rate of the first material area with the lower spring rate differs from the spring rate of the second material area with the higher spring rate by at least 20%.

12. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the belt material has at least two first material areas with the lower spring rate and/or has at least two second material areas with the higher spring rate.

23. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the belt material comprises neoprene and/or composite materials and/or foamed vulcanized materials and/or composites with textiles.

24. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one electrode for the detection of electrocardiogram (ECG)and/or electroencephalogram (EEG) and/or electromyogram (EMG) and/or at least one acceleration sensor and/or at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one ring-shaped coil line in the belt for impedance measurement and/or at least one sensor for measuring the oxygen saturation in the blood.

25. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein the belt has a circumference or a length in the range of 0.1 m to 1.2 m in the unstretched state.

26. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 1, further comprising fastening means for fastening the sensor to the belt material.

13. A medical purpose stretchable belt for use on the body of a patient, the belt comprising:

a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of the patient'"'"'s body;

a belt structure with stretchable belt material, the belt structure being longitudinally stretched by 3% with a tensile force of less than 7 N, said sensor being supported on said belt structure.

14. A medical purpose stretchable belt in accordance with claim 13, wherein the belt structure is longitudinally stretched by 3% with a tensile force of less than 3 N.

15. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 13, wherein a longitudinal stretching of the belt by 3% requires a force between 2.5 N and 3.5 N.

16. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 13, wherein the belt material includes a first material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a lower spring rate than a second material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a higher spring rate.

17. A medical purpose stretchable belt for use on the body of a patient, the belt comprising:

a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of the patient'"'"'s body;

a belt structure with micropores, which are stretchable during a longitudinal stretching of the belt, said micropores stretching including stretching in the longitudinal direction, said sensor being supported on said belt structure.

18. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 17, wherein a maximum dimensional extension of the micropores including the diameter of the micropores is less than 30% of the thickness of the belt.

19. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 17, wherein a maximum dimensional extension of the micropores including the diameter of the micropores is less than 10% of the thickness of the belt.

20. A medical purpose stretchable belt for use on the body of a patient, the belt comprising:

a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of the patient'"'"'s body;

a belt structure with belt material having a volume that increases during a longitudinal stretching of the belt, said sensor being supported on said belt structure.

21. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 20, wherein the volume of the belt increases by at least 0.3% to 3% during a 3% stretching of the length of the belt.

22. A stretchable belt in accordance with claim 20, wherein the belt material includes a first material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a lower spring rate than a second material area comprising a longitudinal extension with a higher spring rate.