Sensor for acquiring physiological signals

• US 9,629,584 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Solutions Technologies, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Smart Solutions Technologies, S.L.
• Inventors: Maci Barber, Agustin, Llorca Juan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US13/988,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• 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 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor 1 for acquiring physiological signals with improved silicone rubber in particular when the sensor 1 is included in a garment 7 and the person who wears the garment 7 is in high level activity, the invention furthermore relates to a device comprising the sensor, as well as garments 7 comprising the device.

Claims

1. A sensor for acquiring physiological signals, the sensor comprising:

a conductive layer comprising a conductive fabric of interlaced conductive and non-conductive fibers and a plurality of orifices throughout the conductive fabric, wherein the plurality of orifices are filled with a silicone rubber, and wherein the silicone rubber is attached to the conductive fabric without the use of an adhesive; and

an electrical connector connected to the conductive layer, the electrical connector providing a separable interface between the conductive layer and an electronic instrument.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer comprises at least an electrode and a track, the electrical connector being connected to the track.

3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the track is covered with an insulating material.

4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the conductive fibers comprise 1) fibers including silver, copper, nickel, stainless steel, gold, silicone rubber loaded with carbon or silver powder;

2) non-conductive fibers coated with a conductive material;

or

     3) a mixture thereof.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the non-conductive fibers comprise fibers including wool, silk, cotton, flax, jute, acrylic, polyamide polyester, nylon, or elastic yarn.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the conductive fibers comprise fibers made of silver coated nylon and the non-conductive fibers are made of nylon.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the silicone rubber is a silicone rubber with molecular weight comprised between 400 g/mol and 600 g/mol.

8. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the proportion of the conductive layer designed to be in contact with a skin surface comprises between 50% and 80% of the conductive layer and the proportion of the silicone rubber designed to be in contact with the skin surface comprises between 20% and 50% of the conductive layer.

9. A device comprising:

at least one sensor as defined in claim 1, and

the electronic instrument for receiving and collecting signals acquired from the at least one sensor.

10. A garment comprising the device as defined in claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the garment so as to be placed in contact with skin of a user during the use of the garment.

11. The garment according to claim 10, wherein a portion of the garment which is coupled to the sensor is designed for applying a pressure equal or higher than 2 kPa.

12. The garment according to claim 10, wherein the garment comprises two layers comprising an inner and an outer layer, and the outer layer is able to compress the sensor to a body of the user with a pressure of at least 2kPa.

13. The garment according to claim 12, wherein the outer layer comprises a system to regulate the pressure.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the electronic instrument further stores and/or processes and/or transmits data received and collected from the at least one sensor.

15. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of orifices form an organized pattern.

16. The sensor according to claim 15, wherein the organized pattern is a circular pattern, sinusoidal pattern, straight line pattern, hexagon pattern, another pattern of geometric shapes, or a combination thereof.

17. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the silicone rubber is located only in the plurality of orifices.

18. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured for detecting cardiac pulse, respiratory frequency, electrodermal response, electrical skin conductivity, electrocardiography, and/or electromyography.

19. A process for the preparation of a sensor as defined in claim 1, the process comprising the steps of:

a) die cutting the conductive fabric;

b) adding a liquid silicone in a manner that the liquid silicone penetrates and fills the plurality of orifices present in the conductive fabric; and

c) curing the liquid silicone to form the silicone rubber;

wherein steps a) and b) can be carried out in any order.