Screen

• US 6,327,486 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Kinnunen, Hannu, Rytky, Pekka, Nissilä, Seppo, Baumann, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/335,663
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/390, 600/393, 600/509, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The invention relates to a screen (300), which is particularly intended for a functional unit measuring heart rate from a user'"'"'s chest. Electrodes (304) of the functional unit and preferably also an electric circuit (306) are protected against extracorporeal interference by the screen (300), which closely follows the electrode (304) or a supporting structure (40, 50, 60, 70) at least at the electrode (104, 204, 304, 402, 502, 602, 702).

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a non-invasive functional unit for measuring the function of at least one organ through skin contact, the functional unit including a supporting structure, an electrical circuit, and electrodes for contacting the skin, the electrodes being operatively coupled to the electrical circuit and mechanically coupled to the supporting structure,

a screen arranged to closely follow the electrodes, and

wherein the screen is positioned such that it is electrically coupled to the skin when the electrodes contact the skin.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a coating structure isolating the functional unit.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coating structure is isolated from the electrical circuit and the electrodes.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is made of metal, conductive polymer and/or compound plastic.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is electrically coupled to a signal earth of the electrical circuit.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a separate, attachable and detachable structure in relation to the functional unit.

7. An assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said screen is positioned for protecting only the electrodes.

8. An assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said screen is positioned on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

9. An assembly as described in claim 8, wherein the non-invasive functional unit is a belt-like transmitter unit adapted to be worn against the skin.

10. An assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the screen is constructed for protecting the electrodes from static electricity.

11. An assembly comprising:

a non-invasive functional unit for measuring the function of at least one organ through skin contact, the functional unit including a supporting structure, an electrical circuit, and electrodes for contacting the skin, the electrodes being operatively coupled to the electrical circuit and mechanically coupled to the supporting structure,

a screen arranged to protect the electrical circuit, and

a protecting structure positioned around the electrodes and electrically coupled to the screen.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protecting structure is electrically separated from the supporting structure and the electrodes.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protecting structure is positioned for electrical coupling with the skin.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 including a protective earth for the functional unit, wherein the protecting structure is coupled to the protective earth of the functional unit.

15. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protecting structure is made of the same material as the supporting structure of the functional unit.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protecting structure is of electrically conductive plastic or metal.

17. An assembly as described in claim 11 including a further screen for protecting the electrodes from static electricity.

18. An assembly as described in claim 11, wherein said protecting structure is engageable with the skin.

19. An assembly as described in claim 11, wherein said screen is positioned on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

20. An assembly as described in claim 11, wherein the non-invasive functional unit is a belt-like transmitter unit adapted to be worn against the skin.

21. An assembly as described in claim 11, wherein the further screen is on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

22. An assembly comprising:

a non-invasive functional unit for measuring the function of at least one organ through skin contact, the functional unit including a supporting structure, an electrical circuit, and electrodes for contacting the skin, the electrodes being operatively coupled to the electrical circuit and mechanically coupled to the supporting structure,

a screen arranged to closely follow the electrodes, and

wherein the surface of the functional unit comprises a first surface which can be placed next to the skin, and a second surface, and the screen is arranged to extend to the functional unit first surface, generating galvanic contact of the skin and the screen when the first surface contacts the skin.

23. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is positioned such that it is electrically isolated from the skin when the electrodes contact the skin.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is a coating structure isolating the functional unit.

25. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the coating structure is isolated from the electrical circuit and the electrodes.

26. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is made of metal, conductive polymer and/or compound plastic.

27. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is electrically coupled to a signal earth of the electrical circuit.

28. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is a separate, attachable and detachable structure in relation to the functional unit.

29. An assembly as described in claim 22, wherein said screen is positioned for protecting only the electrodes.

30. An assembly as described in claim 22, wherein said screen is positioned on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

31. An assembly as described in claim 30, wherein the non-invasive functional unit is a belt-like transmitter unit adapted to be worn against the skin.

32. An assembly as described in claim 31, wherein the screen is constructed for protecting the electrodes from static electricity.

33. An assembly comprising:

a non-invasive functional unit for measuring the function of at least one organ through skin contact, the functional unit including a supporting structure, an electrical circuit, and electrodes for contacting the skin, the electrodes being operatively coupled to the electrical circuit and mechanically coupled to the supporting structure,

a screen arranged to closely follow the electrodes, and

wherein the conductivity of the screen is substantially lower than the conductivity of the electrodes.

34. An assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the screen is positioned such that it is electrically isolated from the skin when the electrodes contact the skin.

35. An assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the screen is a coating structure isolating the functional unit.

36. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the coating structure is isolated from the electrical circuit and the electrodes.

37. An assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the screen is made of metal, conductive polymer and/or compound plastic.

38. An assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the screen is electrically coupled to a signal earth of the electrical circuit.

39. An assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the screen is a separate, attachable and detachable structure in relation to the functional unit.

40. An assembly as described in claim 33, wherein said screen is positioned for protecting only the electrodes.

41. An assembly as described in claim 33, wherein said screen is positioned on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

42. An assembly as described in claim 41, wherein the non-invasive functional unit is a belt-like transmitter unit adapted to be worn against the skin.

43. An assembly as described in claim 42, wherein the screen is constructed for protecting the electrodes from static electricity.

44. An assembly comprising:

a non-invasive functional unit for measuring the function of at least one organ through skin contact, the functional unit including a supporting structure, an electrical circuit, and electrodes for contacting the skin, the electrodes being operatively coupled to the electrical circuit and mechanically coupled to the supporting structure,

a screen arranged to closely follow the electrodes, and

wherein the screen is positioned for making skin contact between the electrodes.

45. An assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the screen is a coating structure isolating the functional unit.

46. An assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the coating structure is isolated from the electrical circuit and the electrodes.

47. An assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the screen is made of metal, conductive polymer and/or compound plastic.

48. An assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the screen is electrically coupled to a signal earth of the electrical circuit.

49. An assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the screen is a separate, attachable and detachable structure in relation to the functional unit.

50. An assembly as described in claim 44, wherein said screen is positioned for protecting only the electrodes.

51. An assembly as described in claim 44, wherein said screen is positioned on the outer surface of the supporting structure.

52. An assembly as described in claim 51, wherein the non-invasive functional unit is a belt-like transmitter unit adapted to be worn against the skin.

53. An assembly as described in claim 52, wherein the screen is constructed for protecting the electrodes from static electricity.