Garments for providing access for sensors to contact skin

• US 8,776,264 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul N Ware
• Original Assignee: Paul N Ware
• Inventors: Kiernan, Pamela
• Primary Examiner(s): QUINN, RICHALE LEE
• Application Number:
  US12/751,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 211/4, 211/5, 2 6/9, 600/382
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

A garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject includes a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s torso. The torso portion defines an exterior space external to the interior space. A plurality of access fittings are defined in the torso portion. Each access fitting is configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

Claims

1. A shirt for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject comprising:

a) a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s upper torso, and defining an exterior space external to the interior space, wherein at least one opening is defined in the torso portion from the exterior space to the interior space for accommodating the garment being put on and taken off of the subject'"'"'s upper torso;

b) a pair of sleeves attached to the torso portion and defining arm portions of the interior space for accommodating the subject'"'"'s arms; and

c) a plurality of access fittings defined in at least one of the torso portion and the pair of sleeves, each access fitting being configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting, wherein the plurality of access fittings includes at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s abdominal muscles, at least one chest access fitting superior with respect to the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s chest muscles, at least one lumbar access fitting opposite the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lumbar muscles, at least one shoulder access fitting superior with respect to the at least one lumbar access fitting for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s shoulder muscles, and at least one upper arm access fitting on each sleeve, configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s upper arm muscles, at least one access fitting on the rib portion of the garment for accessing the subject'"'"'s rib muscles, at least one triceps access fitting in a triceps portion of the sleeve for access to the subject'"'"'s triceps muscles, and at least one access fitting on the gluteus maximus portion located inferior with respect to lumbar access fittings, for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus, and wherein each access fitting is a slit defined for passage of a portion of a sensor device therethrough, the slit being entirely surrounded by a tubing element and being free of any coverings, wherein the tubing element is configured to reinforce the slit, wherein the slit, in an unused state, has at least a portion of opposing edges thereof abutting one-another, and wherein the slit is configured to accommodate a portion of the sensor unit passing therethrough without being overly revealing.

2. A shirt as recited in claim 1, wherein the access fittings on the torso portion consist of two abdominal access fittings configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s abdominal muscles, two chest access fittings superior with respect to the two abdominal access fittings configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s chest muscles, two lumbar access fittings opposite the two abdominal access fittings configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lumbar muscles, two access fittings on the gluteus maximus portion located inferior with respect to lumbar access fittings, for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus, two access fittings on the rib portion of the garment for accessing the subject'"'"'s rib muscles, and one shoulder access fitting superior with respect to the two lumbar access fittings for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s shoulder muscles.

3. A shirt as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper arm access fittings on the pair of sleeves above an elbow of the subject consist of two upper arm access fittings on each sleeve, wherein one of the upper arm access fittings on each sleeve is in a triceps portion of the sleeve for access to the subject'"'"'s triceps muscles and one of the upper arm access fittings on each sleeve is in a biceps portion of the sleeve for access to the subject'"'"'s biceps muscles.

4. A shirt as recited in claim 1, wherein each sleeve includes at least one lower arm access fitting inferior with respect to the upper arm access fitting thereof for providing sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lower arm muscles.

5. A shirt as recited in claim 4, wherein the lower arm access fittings on the pair of sleeves below an elbow of the subject consist of two lower arm access fittings on each sleeve, wherein one of the lower arm access fittings on each sleeve is on a top portion of the lower arm and one of the lower arm access fittings on each sleeve is on a bottom portion of the lower arm opposing the top portion.

6. A shirt as recited in claim 1, further comprising an additional access fitting with a patch of electrically conductive material configured to allow sensor access to the subject'"'"'s skin by way of electrical signals conducted from the subject'"'"'s skin, through the patch, to the sensor with the sensor located completely outside the interior space of the torso portion of the garment.

7. A lower garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject, the lower garment comprising:

a) a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s lower torso, and defining an exterior space external to the interior space, wherein a waist opening is defined in the torso portion from the exterior space to the interior space for accommodating the garment being put on and taken off of the subject'"'"'s lower torso;

b) a pair of legs attached to the torso portion defining legs of the interior space for accommodating the subjects legs; and

c) a plurality of access fittings defined in at least one of the torso portion and the pair of legs, each access fitting being configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting, wherein the plurality of access fittings includes at least one access fitting adjacent a hamstring portion of each leg of the garment, at least one access fitting adjacent a quadriceps portion of the leg, opposite the hamstring portion, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s quadriceps, at least one gluteus maximus access fitting proximate a gluteus maximus portion located superior to the access fitting in the hamstring portion, configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, at least one adductor access fitting proximate an adductor portion, and at least one lateral portion access fitting provided substantially lateral with respect to the quadriceps portion and adductor fittings, to provide access to of the subject'"'"'s upper and lower thighs, and wherein each access fitting is a slit defined for passage of a portion of a sensor device therethrough, the slit being entirely surrounded by a tubing element and being free of any coverings, wherein the tubing element is configured to reinforce the slit, wherein the slit, in an unused state, has at least a portion of opposing edges thereof abutting one-another, and wherein the slit is configured to accommodate a portion of the sensor unit passing therethrough without being overly revealing.

8. A lower garment as recited in claim 7, wherein the access fittings defined in the torso portion of the lower garment consist of two gluteus maximus access fittings proximate a gluteus maximus portion located superior to the access fitting in the hamstring portion, configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles.

9. A lower garment as recited in claim 7, wherein the access fittings defined in the pair of legs above a knee of the subject consist of one hamstring access fitting on each leg adjacent a hamstring portion of each leg of the garment, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s hamstrings, one quadriceps access fitting on each leg adjacent a quadriceps portion of the leg, opposite the hamstring portion, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s quadriceps, one adductor access fitting on each leg proximate an adductor portion, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s adductors, one access fitting on each leg substantially lateral with respect to a respective quadriceps portion configured to provide access to of the subject'"'"'s lower thighs, and one access fitting on each leg substantially lateral to a respective adductor fitting configured to provide access to of the subject'"'"'s upper thighs.

10. A lower garment as recited in claim 7, wherein each leg includes at least one access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lower leg muscles.

11. A lower garment as recited in claim 7, wherein the access fittings defined in the pair of legs below a knee of the subject consist of one calf access fitting on each leg, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s calf muscles, and one shin access fitting on each leg, opposite the respective calf access fitting, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s shin muscles.

12. A lower garment as recited in claim 7, further comprising an additional access fitting with a patch of electrically conductive material configured to allow sensor access to the subject'"'"'s skin by way of electrical signals conducted from the subject'"'"'s skin, through the patch, to the sensor with the sensor located completely outside the interior space of the torso portion of the garment.