Electrode belt of heart rate monitor

• US 6,553,247 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Rytky, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Argenbright, Tony M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,028
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 600/386-390, 600/384, 600/391-393, 600/501, 600/513, 600/372, 128/905, 128/925
• US Class Current: 600/386
• 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 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/925 Neural network

Abstract

An electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, the electrode belt comprising one or more electrodes for measuring the heart rate on the chest, an electronics unit for handling the information to be received from the electrode, a conductor for providing electrical contact between the electronics unit and the electrode, at least one wavelike supporting structure provided with alternating upwards and downwards directing sections and intended for protecting the conductor. The conductor of the electrode belt follows the shape of the supporting structure, thus having a wavelike form.

Claims

1. An electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, the electrode belt comprising:

at least one electrode for measuring heart rate information,

an electronics unit for processing the heart rate information received from the at least one electrode,

at least one supporting structure having a wavelike shape provided with alternating ridges, the alternating ridges defining a pleated inner surface, for placement against the body of a wearer of the electrode belt, and a pleated outer surface opposite the inner surface, and

a conductor for providing electrical contact between the electronics unit and the at least one electrode, the conductor being supported by the supporting structure and following the shape of the supporting structure, thus having a wavelike form.

2. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor is a section inside the supporting structure between the electronics unit and the electrode.

3. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode belt comprises a conduction base onto which the conductor is built.

4. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conduction base is inside the supporting structure and thereby follows the wavelike shape of the supporting structure.

5. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conduction base is made of a flexible polyimide material.

6. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conduction base and the conductor extend as a uniform piece from the electronics unit to the electrode.

7. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conduction base is connected to at least two electrodes and that it is a uniform piece extending from one electrode to the other via the electronics unit.

8. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electronics unit comprises one or more electronic components and that the conduction base functions as a connecting plate for said one or more electronic components.

9. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode belt is a uniform piece to which one or more electrodes and the electronics unit are fixedly arranged.

10. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode belt comprises a first part and one or more second parts, which first part comprises one or more first fastening means and which second part comprises one or more second fastening means, which first part and second part can be attached to each other detachably such that said first fastening means are attached to the second fastening means.

11. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first part comprises the electronics unit which is in an electrical connection to one or more first fastening means via the conductor and that said second part comprises one or more electrodes, which electrode is in an electrical connection to the second fastening means.

12. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics unit comprises means for transmitting heart rate information measured by the electrodes to a receiver receiving the heart rate information.

13. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting the heart rate information measured by the electrodes to the receiver receiving the heart rate information comprise a coil for transmitting the heart rate information wirelessly and inductively to the receiver.

14. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wavelike shape of the supporting structure and the conductor comprises at least one wave ridge and at least one wave trough.

15. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wavelike shape is substantially a sine curve.

16. An electrode belt as clamed in claim 14, wherein the distance between the pleated inner surface and the pleated outer surface of the supporting structure, measured perpendicularly from the inner surface to the outer surface, is substantially constant between the wave ridge on the inner surface of the wavelike shape of the supporting structure and the wave trough following said wave ridge.

17. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 14, wherein the distance between two successive wave ridges defining the pleated inner surface of the supporting structure substantially equals the distance between two successive wave troughs.

18. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pleated inner surface and the pleated outer surface of the supporting structure are symmetrical.

19. An electrode belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance from the conductor to the pleated inner surface of the supporting structure substantially equals the distance from the conductor to the pleated outer surface for the supporting structure.