Accessory for performance-monitoring device

• US 8,467,861 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Rytky, Pekka, Kokkoneva, Olli
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US12/428,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/382, 600386-390
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• 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 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

There is provided an electric apparatus for monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a person, comprising an attaching mechanism configured to enable the attachment of the electric apparatus to a wearable item, first and second electrodes for electrical contact with the skin of the person, wherein, during operation, the first electrode is placed between the wearable item and the skin of the person and the second electrode is placed on the opposite side of the wearable item, a detector configured to detect the electrocardiogram signal between the two electrodes, and a transmitter configured to transmit wirelessly information regarding the electrocardiogram signal detected by the detector.

Claims

1. An electric apparatus for monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a person, comprising:

an attaching mechanism configured to attach the electric apparatus to a wrist band of a wrist device capable of wirelessly receiving information regarding the electrocardiogram signal, the attaching mechanism configured to enable detachment of the electric apparatus from the wrist band of the wrist device so that the electric apparatus can be switched to another wrist device;

first and second electrodes for electrical contact with the skin of the person, the first electrode being configured to be placed between the wrist band of the wrist device and the skin of the person during operation, the second electrode being configured to be placed on the opposite side of the wrist band of the wrist device during operation;

a detector configured to detect the electrocardiogram signal between the two electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes form a fixed support structure for the detector; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit information regarding the electrocardiogram signal detected by the detector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the electrocardiogram signal comprises an identifier that identifies the electric apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the electrodes is at least partially integrated with the attaching mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attaching mechanism includes a conducting rod and a conducting flange, wherein the conducting rod is coupled with the detector and configured to extend through a hole of a wristband of the wrist device, and the flange is attached to the conducting rod during operation and positioned between the skin of the wrist and the wristband, the wristband thus providing an electric contact between the conducting rod and the skin.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmitter characteristics of the transmitter are chosen so that the transmission coverage is in the order of 5 centimeters.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is mounted on a flexible base with adaptable thickness on the basis of the space between the wearable item and the skin of the person, thereby providing skin-tight contact for the first electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is integrated into a cover of the electric apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attaching mechanism includes a hole in the attaching mechanism configured to allow the wristband of the wrist device to be passed through the hole, thereby allowing attachment of the electrical apparatus to the wristband.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission of information applies magnetic pulses or Bluetooth communication protocol.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured to be in contact with a finger and the first electrode is configured to be in contact with a wrist during operation.

11. An electric apparatus for monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a person, comprising:

an attaching mechanism configured to attach the electric apparatus to a wrist band of a wrist device capable of wirelessly receiving information regarding the electrocardiogram signal, the attaching mechanism configured to enable detachment of the electric apparatus from the wrist band of the wrist device so that the electric apparatus can be switched to another wrist device;

first and second electrodes for electrical contact with the skin of the person, the first electrode being configured to be placed between the wrist band of the wrist device and the skin of the person during operation, the second electrode being configured to be placed on the opposite side of the wrist band of the wrist device during operation;

a detector configured to detect the electrocardiogram signal between the two electrodes; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit information regarding the electrocardiogram signal detected by the detector, wherein

either the attaching mechanism includes a conducting rod, wherein the conducting rod is coupled with the detector and configured to extend through a hole of the wristband of the wrist device, and the first electrode is attached to the conducting rod during operation and positioned between the skin of the wrist and the wristband, thus providing an electric contact between the conducting rod and the skin, or

the attaching mechanism includes a hole in the attaching mechanism in order to allow the wristband of the wrist device to be passed through the hole, thereby enabling attachment of the electrical apparatus to the wristband.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information regarding the electrocardiogram signal comprises an identifier that identifies the electric apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of the electrodes is at least partially integrated with the attaching mechanism.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is mounted on a flexible base with adaptable thickness on the basis of the space between the wearable item and the skin of the person, thereby providing skin-tight contact for the first electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second electrode is integrated into a cover of the electric apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless transmission of information applies magnetic pulses or Bluetooth communication protocol.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second electrode is configured to be in contact with a finger and the first electrode is configured to be in contact with a wrist during operation.

18. An electric apparatus for monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a person, comprising:

an attaching mechanism configured to attach the electric apparatus to a wrist band of a wrist device capable of wireles sly receiving information regarding the electrocardiogram signal, the attaching mechanism configured to enable detachment of the electric apparatus from the wrist band of the wrist device so that the electric apparatus can be switched to another wrist device;

first and second electrodes for electrical contact with the skin of the person, the first electrode being configured to be placed between the wrist band of the wrist device and the skin of the person during operation, the second electrode being configured to be placed on the opposite side of the wrist band of the wrist device during operation, wherein the second electrode is integrated into a cover of the electric apparatus;

a detector configured to detect the electrocardiogram signal between the two electrodes; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit information regarding the electrocardiogram signal detected by the detector.