GARMENT ACCESSORY WITH ELECTROCARDIOGRAM SENSORS

• US 20140012145A1
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medicomp Incorporated (Medicomp, Inc. /Balda/)
• Original Assignee: Medicomp Incorporated (Medicomp, Inc. /Balda/)
• Inventors: Kurzweil, Raymond C., Albrecht, Paul, Gibson, Lucy, Angelica, Amara, Kleiner, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/483
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• 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: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip

Abstract

The brassiere may include at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere with the at least one accommodation configured to carry at least a pair of sensors. The pair of sensors may be detachably carried by the at least one accommodation. The accommodation may be a pocket, slit, or pouch. The accommodation may be a pair of pockets that support a garment accessory. The garment accessory may include a member having first and second ends that fit within the pair of pockets. The pair of sensors may be carried by the member, which holds the sensors against the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere. The garment accessory may further include a wireless transmitter carried by the member.

Claims

1. A brassiere comprising:

at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere, the at least one accommodation configured to carry at least a pair of sensors; and

a pair of sensors that are detachably carried by the at least one accommodation.

2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the accommodation is one of a pocket, slit, or pouch.

3. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the accommodation is a pair of pockets that support a garment accessory;

wherein the garment accessory comprises a member having first and second ends that fit within the pair of pockets; and

wherein the pair of sensors are carried by the member which holds the sensors against the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere.

4. The garment accessory of claim 3 further comprising a wireless transmitter carried by the member.

5. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the at least one accommodation is a pouch formed by a layer of material coupled to a portion of the brassiere, the pouch having an opening in a portion of the material facing the user'"'"'s body so that at least one of the pair of sensors can make contact with the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere.

6. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the at least one accommodation is a pouch formed by a layer of material coupled to a portion of the brassiere, the pouch being configured to be closed so that at least a portion of the pouch that faces the wearer'"'"'s body to house a capacitively-coupled removable sensor.

7. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the accommodation is a plurality of loops of material disposed on a strap portion of the brassiere to support a member carrying at least one of the pair of sensors.

8. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the accommodation is a slit through a portion of the brassiere through which a portion of at least one of the pair of sensors is supported with a portion of the sensor being on a skin side of the slit and a separate portion of the sensor overlapping the portion of the brassiere and being on an opposing side of the slit.

9. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the accommodation is a slot, groove, clip or re-closable fastener capable of carrying wiring.

10. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the pair of sensors are at least one of ECG sensors, motion sensors, body temperature sensors or impedance plethysmography sensors.

11. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the pair of sensors include sensor membranes configured to rest against skin of a wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the sensor membranes are in electrical contact with a mating snap; and

wherein the sensor membranes comprise an electrically conductive, flexible material.

12. The brassiere of claim 11 wherein the sensor membranes have a major surface that is exposed to make contact with the skin of the wearer of the brassiere;

and wherein the major surface is curved or flat.

13. The brassiere of claim 12 wherein the major surface of the sensor membranes are covered with a conductive gel film.

14. The brassiere of claim 11 wherein the pair of sensors further comprise a sensor frame comprised of a firm, flexible material supporting the sensor membrane.

15. The brassiere of claim 11 wherein the sensor membrane comprises a water resistant material to induce sweat.

16. A brassiere comprising:

at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere, the at least one accommodation configured to carry at least a pair of sensors;

a pair of sensors that are detachably carried by the at least one accommodation; and

a wireless transmitter;

wherein the accommodation is a pair of pockets that support a garment accessory and capable of carrying wiring;

wherein the garment accessory comprises a member having first and second ends that fit within the pair of pockets;

wherein the pair of sensors are carried by the member for holding the sensors against the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere;

wherein the wireless transmitter is adapted to be carried by the member.

17. The brassiere of claim 16 wherein the pair of sensors include sensor membranes configured to rest against skin of a wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the sensor membranes are in electrical contact with a mating snap; and

wherein the sensor membranes comprise an electrically conductive, flexible material;

wherein the sensor membranes have a major surface that is exposed to make contact with the skin of the wearer of the brassiere; and

wherein the major surface is curved or flat; and

wherein the major surface of the sensor membranes are covered with a conductive gel film.

18. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the sensor membrane comprises a water resistant material.

19. A brassiere comprising:

at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere, the at least one accommodation configured to carry at least a pair of sensors; and

a pair of sensors that are detachably carried by the at least one accommodation;

wherein the at least one accommodation is a pouch formed by a layer of material coupled to a portion of the brassiere, the pouch having an opening in a portion of the material facing the user'"'"'s body so that at least one of the pair of sensors can make contact with the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere;

wherein the accommodation is capable of carrying wiring

wherein the pair of sensors are at least one of ECG sensors, motion sensors, body temperature sensors or impedance plethysmography sensors;

wherein the pair of sensors include sensor membranes configured to rest against skin of a wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the sensor membranes are in electrical contact with a mating snap; and

wherein the sensor membranes comprise an electrically conductive, flexible material.

20. The brassiere of claim 19 wherein the sensor membranes have a major surface that is exposed to make contact with the skin of the wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the major surface of the sensor membranes are covered with a conductive gel film;

wherein the pair of sensors further comprise a sensor frame;

wherein the sensor membrane comprises a water resistant material.