Selectively detachable and wearable electrode/sensors

• US 6,668,380 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Heerden, Clive, Marmaropoulos, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Welch, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US10/086,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 2 6/9, 2 8/5, 2 9/3, 215/9, 222/7, 224/31, 245/5, 291/2, 128/DIG.15, 128/639, 128/644, 340/573.1, 340/604, 600/301, 600/384, 600/388
• US Class Current: 2/69
• 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

Abstract

A wearable garment for selectively retaining one or more separable and/or replaceable electrodes or sensors. The wearable garment having a flexible body with an inner surface for positioning the sensors relative to the skin of a wearer, one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners affixed to the inner surface, and one or more flexible electrical conductors also affixed to the inner surface so as to electrically cooperate with the one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners. The one or more separable and/or replaceable flexible sensors each having a second flexible electrically conductive fastener for separably fastening to the one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners to facilitate a complementary electrical connection between the one or more selectively separable and/or flexible sensors and the one or more flexible electrical conductors.

Claims

1. A wearable garment for positioning replaceable sensors relative to the skin of a wearer, comprising:

a wearable body structure, of flexible material, having an inner surface;

a flexible electrical conductor affixed to said inner surface;

a first separable fastener, positioned relative to the skin of the wearer, affixed to said inner surface of said wearable body structure, said first separable fastener being formed of flexible electronic conductive material, and being electrically connected to said flexible electrical conductor,

a separable unattached sensor formed of flexible conductive material having a second fastener formed of flexible conductive material electrically connected thereto, said second separable fastener being configured for separable fastening to said first separable fastener and positioned relative to the skin of the wearer to complete an electrical current path between said sensor and said electrical conductor.

2. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein said flexible electrical conductor further has a first end electrically connected to said first separable fastener portion and a second end portion.

3. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor is integrated into the flexible material of said wearable body structure in the form of fibers of conductive material supported by fibers of substantially non-conductive material.

4. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor is printed on said inner surface of said wearable body structure in the form of electrically conductive coating material.

5. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein said first and second separable fasteners comprise hook and loop material.

6. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein said flexible conductive material of said sensor is conductive silicone.

7. The wearable garment of claim 1, further comprising a third separable fastener formed of electrically conductive material, electrically connecting external electrical equipment to said conductor.

8. A wearable garment for positioning replaceable sensors relative to the skin of a wearer, comprising:

a wearable body structure, of flexible material, having an inner surface;

a flexible electrical conductor affixed to said inner surface;

a first separable fastener, positioned relative to the skin of the wearer affixed to said inner surface of said wearable body structure, said first separable fastener being formed of flexible electronic conductive hook and loop material, and being electrically connected to said flexible electrical conductor,

a separable unattached sensor formed of flexible conductive silicone having a second fastener formed of flexible conductive hook and loop material electrically connected thereto, said second separable fastener being configured for separable fastening to said first separable fastener and positioned relative to the skin of the wearer to complete an electrical current path between said sensor and said electrical conductor.

9. The wearable garment of claim 8, wherein said electrical conductor is integrated into the flexible material of said wearable body structure in the form of fibers of conductive material supported by fibers of substantially non-conductive material.

10. The wearable garment of claim 8, wherein said electrical conductor is printed on said inner surface of said wearable body structure in the form of electrically conductive coating material.

11. The wearable garment of claim 8, wherein said electrical conductor further has a first end portion and a second end portion.

12. The wearable garment of claim 8, further comprising a third separable fastener formed of electrically conductive material, electrically connecting external electrical equipment to said conductor.

13. A wearable garment/sensor system, comprising;

a flexible body structure having an inner surface;

one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners, positioned relative to the skin of the wearer, affixed to said inner surface of said flexible body for retaining one or more selectively separable and/or replaceable flexible sensors;

one or more flexible electrical conductors, positioned relative to the skin of the wearer, affixed to said inner surface and electrically cooperating with said one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners;

wherein said one or more selectively unattached separable and/or replaceable flexible sensors each have a second flexible electrically conductive fastener for selectively fastening to said one or more first flexible electrically conductive fasteners to facilitate a selective complementary electrical connection between said one or more selectively separable and/or flexible sensors and said one or more flexible electrical conductors.