Bio-mechanical sensor system

• US 20090281394A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zephyr Technology Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Zephyr Technology Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Russell, Brian Keith, Close, Nicholas Alistair, Solomon, Christopher Michael, Kent, Stephen Christopher, Mallinson, Paul Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US12/311,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

The bio mechanical sensor system is disclosed that uses conductive fabric sensors to detect, monitor and record one or more physiological parameters of a person wearing a garment that incorporates the fabric sensors such as a body harness or strap for example, that is attached to a person. The physiological parameters that can be detected include a wearer'"'"'s heart rate and respiration rate plus ambient temperature and body temperature for example. The garment has a monitoring device that is attached to the garment and used to receive the detected physiological data. A processing circuit within the monitoring device then processes the data and outputs the person'"'"'s physiological data to a display device in a format characteristic of the person'"'"'s heart rate and respiratory rate and/or outputs the data to a third party system for review and analysis.

Claims

1-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A bio-mechanical sensing system comprising:

a plurality of conductive fabric sensors integral with a garment and positioned in the garment to contact the chest of the wearer when the garment is worn, to sense physiological data of a wearer, including two sensors for providing an analogue heart rate signal and a sensor for providing an analogue respiratory signal,

a plurality of electrical connectors integral with said garment including a first connector from one of the two heart rate sensors, a second connector from the respiratory rate sensor, and a third and shared connector from the other of the two heart rate sensors and which provides a relative ground for the respiratory rate signal,

a monitoring device electrically connected or connectable to said sensors by said electrical connectors including said shared connector, said monitoring device including;

a detection circuit arranged to receive as an input said analogue physiological signals from said fabric sensors, and

a processing circuit for processing and extrapolating said signals into a readable digital data format characteristic of said physiological signal data.

73. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said monitoring device further includes a storage device for storing said digital data and a communications system for communicating said digital data to a third party system for analysis and/or storage of said digital data.

74. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said monitoring device further includes a user interface for outputting said digital data to a visual and/or audible output device for analysis and/or review by an individual.

75. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said plurality of conductive fabric sensors also include one or more of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a direction sensor and a movement sensor.

76. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein each of said electrical connectors is a press-fit or snap-fit connector or hook and loop connector.

77. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said respiratory rate sensor is formed by at least an inner and an outer layer of conductive fabric material having a compressible non-conductive material between and arranged to deform or compress due to a wearer'"'"'s thoracic or diaphragm diameter changing when said wearer inhales thereby decreasing a separation distance between said inner and said outer layer of said conductive fabric.

78. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 77 wherein said respiratory rate sensor has a first terminal coupled to an AC relative ground within said monitoring device by said third and shared electrical connector and a second terminal coupled by said second electrical connector to an AC signal driven with a high output resistance.

79. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 78 wherein said processing circuit is arranged to sample the amplitude of said AC signal to generate a digital respiration related waveform and data representative of said wearer'"'"'s respiration rate for storage in a storage device within said monitoring device and/or for output to a third party device.

80. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 79 wherein said processing circuit is arranged to measure a change in a voltage between said heart rate sensors, to generate a digital heart rate related waveform representative of said wearer'"'"'s heart rate for storage in a storage device within said monitoring device and/or for output to a third party device.

81. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 80 wherein said processing circuit comprises an ECG amplifier with a low pass frequency response to exclude a higher frequency AC respiration rate signal.

82. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said conductive fabric sensors are flexible for conforming to a wearer'"'"'s body shape.

83. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said garment is a stretchable body harness or strap, a jacket type garment, a protective armour garment, or other item of clothing for wearing on the upper body part of said user.

84. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said monitoring device includes a communications port comprising a wireless transmitter.

85. The bio-mechanical sensing system according to claim 72 wherein said plurality of electrical connectors provide a serial interface connection between said garment and a third party system when said monitoring device is removed from said garment.

86. The body harness or strap, jacket, protective armour garment, or other item of clothing including a part arranged to contact a wearer'"'"'s chest when worn, and comprising a biochemical sensing system according to claim 72.

87. A bio-mechanical sensing system comprising:

a body harness or strap or clothing item comprising integral conductive fabric positioned in the body harness or strap or clothing item to contact the chest of a wearer when worn, the conductive fabric sensors including two sensors for obtaining an analogue heart rate signal and a sensor for obtaining an analogue respiratory signal, the body harness or strap or clothing item comprising a first integral electrical connection from one of the heart rate sensors, a second integral electrical connection from the respiratory rate sensor, and a third integral electrical connection from both the other heart rate sensor and the respiratory rate sensor, and

a monitoring device electrically connected or connectable to said sensors and arranged to measure a change in a voltage between said heart rate sensors to provide a heart rate signal and comprising an ECG amplifier with a low pass frequency response to exclude a higher frequency AC respiration rate signal, the respiratory rate sensor being a capacitance-based sensor and the monitoring device coupling a first side of the respiratory rate sensor to an AC signal driven with a high output resistance and by said shared electrical connection a second side the respiratory rate sensor to an AC relative ground within said monitoring device.