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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
First Claim
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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.

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