GARMENT FOR MEASURING PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME

• US 20100234715A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Park, Seon-Hee, Jang, Yong-Won, Kim, Seung-Hwan, Shin, Seung-Chul, Lee, In-Bum
• Application Number:
  US12/671,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

Provided is a garment for measuring physiological signals. The garment includes at least one electrode sensor, a signal connection line, a snap structure, and a measurement unit. The electrode sensor is coupled to an inner surface of the garment to make contact with a skin for detecting physiological signals. The signal connection line transmits the physiological signals detected by the electrode sensor. The signal connection line is finished against the inner surface of the garment. The snap structure is coupled to a portion of the garment where the electrode sensor is not overlapped and is electrically connected to the signal connection line. The measurement unit is mounted on the snap structure for measuring the physiological signals. The signal connection line has elasticity.

Claims

1-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A garment for measuring physiological signals, comprising:

an electrode sensor coupled to an inner surface of a garment to make contact with a skin for detecting physiological signals;

a signal connection line connected to the electrode sensor;

a snap structure electrically connected to the signal connection line; and

a measurement unit mounted on the snap structure for measuring the physiological signals,

wherein the signal connection line has elasticity.

53. The garment of claim 52, wherein a portion of the garment which coupled to the electrode sensor is designed for applying a pressure equal to or higher than 0.1 kPa.

54. The garment of claim 52, wherein the electrode sensor is a conductive fabric electrode formed of conductive yarn, the conductive fabric electrode having a stronger elasticity than the garment.

55. The garment of claim 52, further comprising a coupling adhesive member used to couple the electrode sensor to the inner surface of the garment.

56. The garment of claim 52, further comprising an interconnection adhesive member configured to connect the electrode sensor and the signal connection line, the interconnection adhesive member having a stronger elasticity than the electrode sensor.

57. The garment of claim 52, further comprising an interconnection metal structure configured to connect the electrode sensor and the signal connection line.

58. The garment of claim 52, wherein the signal connection line comprises:

an elastic thread as a core material;

a metal thread wound around the elastic thread; and

an insulation thread wound around the metal thread to cover the metal thread.

59. The garment of claim 52, wherein the signal connection line is finished against the inner surface of the garment.

60. The garment of claim 52, wherein the snap structure comprises:

a male snap comprising a post passing through the garment; and

a female snap coupled to the male snap with the garment being disposed between the female snap and the male snap.

61. The garment of claim 52, wherein the snap structure is coupled to a portion of the garment to which the electrode sensor is not overlapped.

62. A method of fabricating a physiological signal measuring garment, the method comprising:

coupling an electrode sensor to an inner surface of a garment to allow the electrode sensor to make contact with a skin for detecting physiological signals;

connecting a signal connection line to the electrode sensor;

forming a snap structure electrically connected to the signal connection line; and

mounting a measurement unit on the snap structure,

wherein the signal connection line has elasticity.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein a portion of the garment which coupled to the electrode sensor is designed for applying a pressure equal to or higher than 0.1 kPa.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the electrode sensor is a conductive fabric electrode formed of conductive yarn by a tricot method or a knit method.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the coupling of the electrode sensor to the inner surface of the garment comprises:

determining a portion of the garment to which the electrode sensor is to be coupled; and

coupling the electrode sensor to the determined portion of the garment using a coupling adhesive member.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the connecting the signal connection line to the electrode sensor uses an interconnection adhesive member.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the connecting the signal connection line to the electrode sensor uses an interconnection metal structure.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein the signal line is formed by a method comprising:

preparing an elastic thread using a core material having an elastic material;

winding the elastic thread with a metal thread coated with a conductive material; and

winding the metal thread with an insulation thread formed of polyester fabric to cover the metal thread.

69. The method of claim 62, further comprising finishing the signal connection line against the inner surface of the garment.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein the forming of the snap structure comprises:

determining a portion of the garment to which the snap structure is coupled;

forming a hole through the determined portion of the garment;

inserting a male snap having a post corresponding to the hole into the hole; and

coupling a female snap to a portion of the post of the male snap protruding from an outer surface of the garment so as to form the snap structure into a yoyo shape in which a pair of circular disks are disposed on both sides of a central post passing through the garment.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein the snap structure is coupled to a portion of the garment to which the electrode sensor is not overlapped.