Belt device

• US 8,175,674 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Muehlsteff, Jens, Schmidt, Ralf, English, Kirsten
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US11/911,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 600/386, 600/388, 600/390, 600/393
• US Class Current: 600/390
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

The belt device comprises a torso portion, a collar portion, sensor elements and at least a first and a second closure element. The first closure element is part of the collar portion on the front side and a second closure element is part of the torso portion on the front side. The closure elements arranged in such a way that they can be opened by a wearer in a comfortable way. The user is able to put on and off the belt system without help of a third person. By the ability to combine different sized collar portions with different sized torso portions a belt device system is provided.

Claims

1. A belt device comprising;

a torso portion,

a collar portion connected to the torso portion by a first connection and a second connection,

sensor elements arranged at predetermined positions on the torso portion and the collar portion, and

at least a first closure element and a second closure element, wherein the first closure element is part of a front side of the collar portion and the second closure element is part of a front side of the torso portion,

wherein at least one of the first connection and the second connection is an adjustable connection element which allows a user to adjust a distance between the collar portion and the torso portion.

2. The belt device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable connection element is arranged at a backside of the belt device.

3. The belt device of claim 2, wherein the length of the torso portion is adjustable.

4. The belt device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable connection element enables a detachable connection of the collar portion and the torso portion.

5. The belt device of claim 1, comprising a pressure element to provide pressure to at least one of the sensor elements to guarantee continuous contact of a sensor element with the skin of the wearer.

6. The belt device of claim 5, wherein the pressure element is adjustable.

7. The belt device of claim 5 comprising an electronic module arranged on the torso portion.

8. The belt device of claim 7, wherein the electronic module is at least part of the pressure element.

9. The belt device of claim 7, wherein the second closure element comprises an electric connection for power and/or data transfer.

10. The belt device of claim 7, wherein the electronic module comprises a storage module to collect and store ECG data.

11. The belt device of claim 7, wherein the electronic module comprises a wireless link for data transfer.

12. The belt device of claim 1, wherein positions of the sensor elements are adjustable.

13. The belt system of claim 1, wherein parts of the torso portion and collar portion are made from foamed material.

14. The belt device of claim 1, wherein the belt device consists of five sensor elements arranged at predetermined positions which cannot be changed by the user.

15. A method to fit a belt device to a wearer comprising:

selecting a collar portion, which is sized with respect to an upper body part of the wearer,

selecting a torso portion which is sized with respect to a waist of the wearer,

connecting the selected torso portion with the selected collar portion via a first connection and a second connection,

adjusting a length of the collar portion,

adjusting the torso portion,

wherein the adjusting of the length of the collar portion and the adjusting of the torso portion aligns one or more of a plurality of sensors located on the collar portion and torso portion.