Contact sensors

• US 8,934,957 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosnes Limited
• Original Assignee: Rosnes Limited
• Inventors: Dias, Tilak Kithsiri, Beatty, Paul Charles William, Hurley, William, Mitcham, Kimberley, Griffiths, Adrian Keith, Ramgulam, Rajcoomar Baboo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US12/088,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20090203984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 442/117, 442/9, 442/111, 600/372, 600/382, 600/396, 600/395, 600/509, 600388-390, 139408-415, 139/423
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/265 containing silver or silver chloride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/27 Conductive fabrics or textiles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/18 elastic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02 Cross-sectional features for three-dimensional features D10B2403/033
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]

Abstract

A non-invasive sensor has a contact membrane (6,16) and a cover membrane (2,12), the cover membrane being adapted for extension of a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it. The contact membrane will normally be attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, and a spacing material (8,20) can be interposed between the membranes to achieve this object. The cover membrane may extend over a support element (10), with the contact membrane overlaying and spaced from the other face of the support element by spacing material.

Claims

1. A non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at a body surface, comprising a contact membrane;

a cover membrane, the cover membrane having a greater elasticity than the contact membrane, and a support element between the contact membrane and the cover membrane and over which the cover membrane is stretched, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the support element such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, the cover membrane being adapted for extension over a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it, wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane by additional elastic sections.

2. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the additional elastic sections comprise elastomeric yarns.

3. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the additional elastic sections are knitted.

4. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the contact membrane or the cover membrane are knitted.

5. A sensor according to claim 4 wherein the cover membrane is a knitted fabric comprising elastomeric yarns.

6. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane substantially continuously around its periphery.

7. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein a space between the contact membrane and the cover membrane is occupied by a filler material.

8. A sensor according to claim 1 wherein the contact membrane forms an electrode.

9. A sensor according to claim 8 wherein the electrode is a multi-point electrode.

10. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the multi-points comprise particles of silver chloride at a surface of the membrane.

11. A sensor according to claim 9 wherein the contact membrane is a textile structure comprising electrically conductive yarns.

12. A sensor according to claim 8 wherein the contact membrane is a knitted layer comprising electrically conductive yarns.

13. A sensor according to claim 12 wherein the contact membrane comprises multiple contact points at the yarn cross over points of stitches.

14. A sensor according to claim 12 wherein the conductive yarns comprise one of silver, gold or platinum.

15. A material incorporating a sensor according to claim 1.

16. A material according to claim 15 including at least one conductor extending from the sensor to an edge of the material.

17. A knitted material according to claim 15.

18. A garment comprising a material according claim 15.

19. A non-invasive sensor comprising a cover membrane extending over one face of a support element;

a contact membrane overlaying another face of the support element and spaced from the support element by a spacing material, the contact membrane being substantially inextensible and attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the support element by elastic sections and the cover membrane being stretched over the support element;

wherein the contact membrane forms an electrode;

or wherein at least one of the cover and contact membranes are knitted.

20. A non-invasive sensor according to claim 19 wherein the support element is planar.

21. A non-invasive sensor according to claim 19 wherein the support element is curved with its one face being convex.

22. A sensor according to claim 19 wherein the elastic sections are fabric comprising elastomeric yarns.

23. A sensor according to claim 19 wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane substantially continuously around its periphery.

24. A sensor according to claim 19 wherein a space between the contact membrane and the cover membrane is occupied by a filler material.

25. A sensor according to claim 19 wherein the contact membrane is a textile structure having conductive yarns.

26. A material incorporating a sensor according to claim 19.

27. A method of monitoring physical movements of a body surface comprising attaching to the body a non-invasive sensor for monitoring activity at the body surface, comprising a contact membrane, a cover membrane, the cover membrane having a greater elasticity than the contact membrane, and a support element between the cover membrane and the contact membrane over which the cover membrane is stretched, the contact membrane being attached to the cover membrane at the periphery of the support element the cover membrane projecting the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it, wherein the contact membrane is attached to the cover membrane by additional elastic sections, and monitoring deformation of the sensor in response to movements of the body surface.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the body surface is a human body surface, and the sensor is part of a garment on the human body.