Garment accessory with electrocardiogram sensors

• US 9,277,867 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medicomp Incorporated (Medicomp, Inc. /Balda/)
• Original Assignee: Medicomp Incorporated (Medicomp, Inc. /Balda/)
• Inventors: Kurzweil, Raymond C., Albrecht, Paul, Gibson, Lucy, Angelica, Amara, Kleiner, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US14/021,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 600/382, 600388-390, 600/393, 600/509, 600/301, 450 1- 93
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip

Abstract

The brassiere may include at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere with the at least one accommodation configured to carry at least a pair of sensors. The pair of sensors may be detachably carried by the at least one accommodation. The accommodation may be a pocket, slit, or pouch. The accommodation may be a pair of pockets that support a garment accessory. The garment accessory may include a member having first and second ends that fit within the pair of pockets. The pair of sensors may be carried by the member, which holds the sensors against the skin of a subject wearing the brassiere. The garment accessory may further include a wireless transmitter carried by the member.

Claims

1. A brassiere comprising:

at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere, the at least one accommodation configured to carry a sensor; and

the sensor, the sensor being detachably carried by the at least one accommodation;

wherein the at least one accommodation further comprises a first layer of material with a first aperture and a second layer of material disposed behind the first layer of material;

wherein the sensor further comprises a sensor face having a sensor face width and a bottom having a bottom width attached to each other by a midsection having a midsection width smaller than the bottom width; and

wherein the bottom is coated with a low friction material.

2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the sensor is at least one of an ECG sensor, a motion sensor, a body temperature sensor, or an impedance plethysmography sensor.

3. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a sensor membrane configured to rest against skin of a wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the sensor membrane comprises an electrically conductive, flexible material.

4. The brassiere of claim 3 wherein the sensor membrane has a major surface that is exposed to make contact with the skin of the wearer of the brassiere;

and wherein the major surface is curved or flat.

5. The brassiere of claim 4 wherein the major surface of the sensor membrane is covered with a conductive gel film.

6. The brassiere of claim 3 wherein the sensor further comprises a sensor frame comprised of a firm, flexible material supporting the sensor membrane.

7. The brassiere of claim 3 wherein the sensor membrane comprises a water resistant material to induce sweat.

9. The brassiere according to claim 1 wherein the first layer of material is affixed to the second layer of material around the aperture.

10. The brassiere according to claim 1 wherein the sensor face is coated with a high friction material.

11. The brassiere of claim 9 wherein the sensor is at least one of an ECG sensor, a motion sensor, a body temperature sensor, or an impedance plethysmography sensor.

12. The brassiere of claim 9 wherein the sensor includes a sensor membrane configured to rest against skin of a wearer of the brassiere;

wherein the sensor membrane comprises an electrically conductive, flexible material.

13. The brassiere of claim 12 wherein the sensor membrane has a major surface that is exposed to make contact with the skin of the wearer of the brassiere;

and wherein the major surface is curved or flat.

14. The brassiere of claim 13 wherein the major surface of the sensor membrane is covered with a conductive gel film.

15. The brassiere of claim 12 wherein the sensor further comprises a sensor frame comprised of a firm, flexible material supporting the sensor membrane.

16. The brassiere of claim 12 wherein the sensor membrane comprises a water resistant material to induce sweat.

17. The brassiere according to claim 9 wherein the first layer of material is affixed to the second layer of material around the aperture.

18. The brassiere according to claim 9 wherein the sensor face is coated with a high friction material.

8. A brassiere comprising:

at least one accommodation disposed on a portion of the brassiere, the at least one accommodation configured to carry sensor; and

the sensor, the sensor being detachably carried by the at least one accommodation;

wherein the at least one accommodation further comprises a first layer of material with a first aperture having an aperture width and a second layer of material disposed behind the first layer of material;

wherein the sensor further comprises a sensor bottom coated with a low friction material; and

wherein the sensor further comprises a sensor face having a sensor face width larger than the aperture width.