WEARABLE REMOTE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20130281795A1
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nanowear Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Varadan, Vijay K.
• Application Number:
  US13/449,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

Abstract

A wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system. The system includes a garment having at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated electrode attached thereto; a control module in electrical communication with the at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated sensor; and a remote computing system in communication with the control module.

Claims

1. A wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system, comprising:

a garment having at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated electrode attached thereto;

a control module in electrical communication with the at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated sensor; and

a remote computing system in communication with the control module.

2. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of physiological sensors selected from the group consisting of a photoplethysmography sensor, an acoustic sensor, a temperature sensor, and a strain sensor.

3. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of nanostructured, textile-integrated electrodes arranged on the garment to collect an electrocardiogram signal from a wearer of the garment.

4. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the acoustic sensor is attached to the garment to collect acoustic signals from a heart of a wearer of the garment.

5. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a resistive temperature detector, a thermistor, and an infrared photodiode detector.

6. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the strain sensor comprises a piezoresistive respiration effort sensor to monitor breathing of a wearer of the garment.

7. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of photoplethysmography sensors coupled to the garment or an armband.

8. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the physiological sensors are electrically connected to the control module by silver-coated thread.

9. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing system communicates with the control module using radio-frequency communications.

10. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated electrode comprises a dry contact sensor.

11. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nanostructured, textile-integrated electrode comprises a fiber having a plurality of nanostructures projecting therefrom.

12. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the nanostructures project from the fiber less than one micrometer.

13. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of nanostructures comprises at least one of a one-dimensional nanostructure, a two-dimensional nanostructure, and a three-dimensional nanostructure.

14. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the one-dimensional structure comprises a wire or a tube.

15. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the two-dimensional structure comprises a bump.

16. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises a helical structure.

17. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the helical structure is a right-handed helical structure.

18. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the fiber is electrically conductive.

19. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the fiber comprises a textile coated with an electrically conductive material.

20. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive material is silver.

21. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the fiber comprises a textile intertwined with an electrically conductive material.

22. The wearable remote electrophysiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the nanostructures comprise at least one of gold, silver, steel, or textile.