WEARABLE MEDICAL SYSTEM WITH STRETCH-CABLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20150320994A1
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Buchanan, Robert Reuben, Finch, David Peter, Gustavson, Laura Marie, Foshee, Phillip Dewey Jr., Cowan, Kenneth F., Kavounas, Gregory T., Meeker, Dallas Eugene, Finney, Daniel James, Medema, Douglas Keith, McEwen, Karen Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 9,402,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A Wearable Medical System includes a support structure that is configured to be worn by a person. The WMS also includes an electronics module, a cable assembly, and at least one electrode that can be configured to be coupled to the support structure. The cable assembly includes a base member and a cable coupled to the base member. The support structure can be dimensioned relative to the person'"'"'s body to be worn with tension, and be resiliently stretched under the tension. The stretching of the support structure can stretch the base member of the cable assembly, thus increasing the effective length of the cable, while reducing or even eliminating slack in the cable.

Claims

1. A Wearable Medical System (WMS), comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a person, the support structure dimensioned relative to a body of the person to be so worn with nonzero tension, the support structure being resiliently stretched under the tension when so worn;

an electronics module configured to be coupled to the support structure;

an electrode configured to be physically coupled to a skin of the person when the support structure is so worn; and

a cable assembly comprising;

a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the base member configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from the support structure, the base member being resiliently stretched by at least 4% along the main direction when the base member is so coupled and the support structure is so worn; and

a cable coupled to the base member, the cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member, and

in which the electronics module becomes coupled electrically with the skin of the person via the cable and via the electrode when the base member is coupled to the support structure and the support structure is so worn.

2. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electronics module includes an energy storage module configured to store electrical energy, and

the energy is configured to be delivered via the cable and via the electrode to the person'"'"'s skin when the support structure is so worn and the base member is coupled to the support structure.

3. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electrode is physically attached to the support structure.

4. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electrode is physically attached to the support structure, and

further comprising another electrode that can be coupled to the support structure but is not permanently physically attached to the support structure.

5. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the cable is arranged in a substantially serpentine manner with respect to the main direction.

6. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the cable assembly includes a securing mechanism configured to couple the base member to the support structure.

7. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

a cloth guard, and

in which at least a portion of the cable assembly is within the cloth guard.

8. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the support structure includes an electronics pocket, and

the electronics module is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being inserted in the electronics pocket.

9. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the support structure includes an electrode pocket, and

the electrode is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being received in the electrode pocket.

10. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the cable includes two nodes,

the electrode is electrically coupled to the cable between the two nodes, and

further comprising a second electrode electrically coupled to the cable between the nodes.

11. The WMS of claim 10, in which

the electrode and the second electrode are attached to the cable.

12. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical contact, and

in which the cable assembly is configured to become coupled physically coupled with the electrode or with the electronics module via the mechanical contact.

13. The WMS of claim 12, in which

the mechanical contact is a snap contact.

14. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the electronics module and the electrode.

15. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the cable and the electrode.

16. The WMS of claim 15, in which

the access circuit includes a resistor.

17. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the support structure has a buttonhole,

the electrode is attached to the cable assembly, and

the electrode becomes coupled to the support structure by passing through the buttonhole.

18. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the cable assembly includes a second cable coupled to the base member.

19. The WMS of claim 18, further comprising:

a second electrode electrically coupled to the second cable.

20. The WMS of claim 18, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the cable and the electrode.

21. The WMS of claim 20, in which

the access circuit affects the electrical coupling between the cable and the electrode responsive to a signal on the second cable, and

further comprising a second electrode.

22. The WMS of claim 21, in which

the access circuit includes a switch that affects the electrical coupling between the cable and the electrode,

the access circuit also includes a selector circuit coupled to receive the signal on the second cable, and

the switch is operable responsive to an output of the selector circuit.

23. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electrode is attached to the cable.

24. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electronics module is attached to the cable.

25. The WMS of claim 24, in which

the electrode is attached to the cable.

26. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes an elastic material.

27. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes a strand of an elastic material, and

the cable is attached to the strand at a plurality of points.

28. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

attachment implements that attach the cable to the base member.

29. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes a fabric.

30. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes an elastomer.

31. The WMS of claim 1, in which

at least a portion of the cable is inside the base member.

32. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes two sheets of material sandwiching the cable and pressed against each other.

33. The WMS of claim 32, in which

the base member further includes an additional structure between the two sheets of material.

34. The WMS of claim 33, in which

the additional structure is made of film.

35. The WMS of claim 33, in which

the additional structure forms a lattice and a cable trace superimposed on the lattice, and

the cable is attached to the additional structure along the cable trace.

36. The WMS of claim 32, in which

the base member includes at least two perforations, and

the cable passes between the two perforations.

37-68. -68. (canceled)

69. A method, comprising:

procuring a support structure;

procuring a cable assembly, the cable assembly having a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the cable assembly further having a cable coupled to the base member, the cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member;

coupling the cable assembly to the support structure; and

then wearing the support structure.

70. The method of claim 69, in which

an electronics module is coupled to the support structure before wearing the support structure.

71. The method of claim 69, in which

an electrode is coupled to the support structure before wearing the support structure.

72. The method of claim 71, in which

the electrode is coupled to the cable assembly.

73. The method of claim 71, in which

the support structure includes a buttonhole, and

coupling the electrode is performed by passing the electrode through the buttonhole.

74. The method of claim 69, in which

the support structure is worn with nonzero tension that stretches the support structure, and

the support structure being stretched causes the coupled cable assembly to also be stretched by at least 4% along a main direction.

75. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

then taking off the support structure;

uncoupling the cable assembly from the support structure; and

placing the support structure in a washing machine.

76. A method, comprising:

coupling a cable assembly to a support structure; and

then wearing the support structure with nonzero tension that stretches resiliently the support structure, and

in which the support structure being stretched causes the coupled cable assembly to also be stretched resiliently by at least 4% along a main direction.

77. The method of claim 76, in which

an electronics module is coupled to the support structure before wearing the support structure.

78. The method of claim 76, in which

an electrode is coupled to the support structure before wearing the support structure.

79. The method of claim 78, in which

the electrode is connected to the cable assembly.

80. The method of claim 78, in which

the support structure includes a buttonhole, and

coupling the electrode is performed by passing the electrode through the buttonhole.

81. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

then taking off the support structure;

uncoupling the cable assembly from the support structure; and

placing the support structure in a washing machine.