TEXTILE BLANK WITH SEAMLESS KNITTED ELECTRODE SYSTEM

• US 20140343390A1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Safety Products USA, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Omsignal Incorporated
• Inventors: Menard, Stephane, Berzowska, Joanna, Chanay, Frederic, Nurkka, Maria Elina
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,199 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 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/225 Elongated tubular articles of small diameter, e.g. coverings or reinforcements for cables or hoses
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/00 Medical; Hygiene
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/11 Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/30 Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base

Abstract

A textile-based electrode system includes a first fabric layer having an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface includes a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user. A second fabric layer is disposed and configured to contact the outer surface of the first fabric layer. The second fabric layer includes a knitted conductive pathway configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted electrode. Furthermore, a third fabric layer is configured and disposed to contact the second fabric layer. A connector is disposed on the third fabric layer and is configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway. The second fabric layer can be folded about a first fold axis and the third fabric layer can be folded about a second fold axis to place the second fabric layer in contact with the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer.

Claims

1. A textile-based electrode system, comprising:

a first fabric layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface including a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user;

a second fabric layer disposed and configured to contact the outer surface of the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer including a knitted conductive pathway configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted electrode;

a third fabric layer disposed and configured to contact the second fabric layer; and

a connector disposed on the third fabric layer and configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fabric layer is folded about a first fold axis to place the second fabric layer in contact with the outer surface of the first fabric layer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the third fabric layer is folded about a second fold axis to place the third fabric layer in contact with the second fabric layer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein first fabric layer is coupled to the second fabric layer and the third fabric layer along at least one of the first fold axis and the second fold axis such that the second fabric layer and the third fabric layer are maintained in the folded state.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the third fabric layer defines an opening and the connector is at least partially disposed in the opening and coupled to the knitted conductive pathway.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the knitted electrode and the knitted conductive pathway include conductive yarn.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the third fabric layer includes a connector region configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer is continuously formed with the second fabric layer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first fabric layer is continuously formed with the third fabric layer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the knitted conductive pathway is electrically coupled to the knitted electrode using at least one of stitching, sewing, gluing, hot wire press, high frequency welding, and ultrasonic welding.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the knitted conductive pathway is electrically coupled to the knitted electrode with conductive yarn.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to electrically couple the knitted conductive pathway to a connector assembly.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the connector is configured to be removably coupled to the connector assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to measure at least one of a galvanic skin response (GSR), an electrocardiogram (ECG), a heart rate, a breathing rate, a breathing pattern, a rib cage perimeter, a rib cage volume, an electromyelogram, and a body temperature.

15. A textile-based electrode system, comprising:

a first fabric portion including a knitted conductive pathway;

a second fabric portion coupled to the first fabric portion and including a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user, the second fabric portion folded over the first fabric portion along a first fold line such that the knitted electrode is configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway; and

a third fabric portion coupled to the second fabric portion and including a connector region, the third fabric portion folded over the first fabric portion along a second fold line such that (a) the connector region is configured to be coupled to the knitted conductive pathway, and (b) the first fabric portion is disposed between the second fabric portion and the third fabric portion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first fabric portion, the second fabric portion, and the third fabric portion are substantially tubular.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first fabric portion, the second fabric portion, and the third fabric portion are formed seamlessly.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the knitted conductive pathway is coupled to at least one of the knitted electrode and the connector region using conductive yarn.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a stitch configured to couple the second fabric portion to the first fabric portion such that the second fabric portion remains folded about the first fold line during use.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the stitch is a first stitch, the system further comprising:

a second stitch configured to couple the third fabric portion to the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion such that the third fabric portion remains folded about the second fold line during use.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the connector region defines an opening through which a connector can be disposed.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the connector region includes a conductive portion configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway.

23. A method of manufacturing a textile-based electrode system, the method comprising:

knitting a first tubular portion, the first tubular portion including a conductive pathway;

knitting a second tubular portion extending from the first tubular portion, the second tubular portion including an electrode;

knitting a third tubular portion extending from the second tubular portion;

folding the first tubular portion over the second tubular portion along a first fold line;

electrically coupling the conductive pathway to the electrode;

folding the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion over the third tubular portion along a second fold line such that the first tubular portion is disposed between the second tubular portion and the third tubular portion;

disposing a connector on the third fabric portion; and

electrically coupling the conductive pathway to the connector.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first tubular portion, the second tubular portion, and the third tubular portion are knitted seamlessly.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein conductive pathway and the electrode include a conductive yarn.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled to a first end of the conductive pathway.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the connector is electrically coupled to a second end of the conductive pathway.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

coupling the first tubular portion to the second tubular portion after the first fold.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

coupling the third tubular portion to the second tubular portion and to the first tubular portion adjacent the first fold line such that first tubular portion and the second tubular portion remain folded over the third tubular portion during use.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

disposing a padding member adjacent the electrode between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, the padding member configured to urge the electrode toward the skin of the user during use.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

disposing a padding member adjacent the electrode between the first tubular portion and the third tubular portion, the padding member configured to urge the electrode toward the skin of the user during use.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

disposing an insulating member between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, the insulating member configured to at least one of electrically and mechanically isolate the conductive pathway from the second tubular portion.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the insulating member is a first insulating member, the method further comprising:

disposing a second insulating member between the first tubular portion and the third tubular portion, the second insulating member configured to at least one of electrically and mechanically isolate the conductive pathway from the third tubular portion