Garment for monitoring physiological properties

• US 20100198043A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deltatre AG (Deltatre SpA)
• Original Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Inventors: Gierich, Martin, Holzer, Christian, Habel, Thorsten
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,740 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 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• 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 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0283 Stretchable printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

A garment enables the monitoring of physiological properties of a person wearing the garment. The measuring sensors are integrated into the garment and are positioned by wearing the garment to the correct position of the body of the person wearing the garment. The device for monitoring the physiological properties containing the measuring electronics is located in the back portion of the garment. This device is either fixedly integrated into the garment or it can be removed.

Claims

1. Garment comprising a device for monitoring physiological properties of the wearer of a garment, wherein the monitoring device is positioned on the rear side of the garment.

2. Garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is further adapted to receive and further process physical signals characterizing the physiological properties to be monitored of the person wearing the garment.

3. Garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the monitoring device is further adapted to store and transmit measuring results resulting from the further processing of the physical signals.

4. Garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the garment further comprises:

two conductive electrodes; and

conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the monitoring device.

5. Garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the monitoring device is detachably connected to the garment.

6. Garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the monitoring device comprises conductive contacts on a surface;

the garment comprises conductive contacts on a surface of the rear side; and

the conductive contacts of the monitoring device can detachably be connected to the conductive contacts of the garment.

7. Garment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the garment also comprises:

conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts on the surface of the garment.

8. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive electrodes are made of conductive stretch fabric;

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts are made of conductive thread; and

the conductive contacts on the surface of the rear side of the garment and the conductive contacts on the surface of the monitoring device are Velcro®

fasteners.

9. Garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the garment also comprises non-conductive fibers and the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts are woven into the non-conductive fibers of the garment on the surface of the garment.

10. Garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least part of the garment is made of non-conductive fibers, and the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts are adhered or stitched onto the surface of the garment onto the part of the garment that is made of non-conductive fibers.

11. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive electrodes form an inner surface of the garment;

the two electrodes are located symmetrical with respect to the spine when the garment is worn; and

the two electrodes extend laterally between the fleeing ribs and the costal arch of the person wearing the garment beginning at the front side of the garment in the direction towards the rear side of the garment up to between the scapulae of the person wearing the garment when the garment is worn.

12. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a processor, a memory, an USB interface, a firewire interface, a wi-fi module, a Bluetooth interface, a GSM module, a GPRS module, an UMTS module or a GPS module.

13. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the physiological properties to be monitored measure the heart rate of the person wearing the garment, and the monitoring device is adapted to measure electrical potentials at the electrodes.

14. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive contacts of the garment are attached on an outer surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located in the state worn either left or right of the spine of the person wearing the garment.

15. Garment as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the conductive contacts of the garment when being worn are located in the shoulder area of the person wearing the garment; and

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts have an identical electrical resistance.

16. Garment as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

The conductive contacts of the garment are located when being worn in the loin area of the person wearing the garment; and

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts have an identical electrical resistance.

17. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive contacts are attached on an outer surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located when being worn symmetrically right and left of the spine of the person wearing the garment.

18. Garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive contacts are attached on an inner surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located in the neck area of the person wearing the garment when being worn.