Sensory for measuring of signals on the surface of the skin and method for producing of the sensory

• US RE46,470 E1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tolvanen, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US14/031,067
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600395, 600386, 600388, 600389, 600396
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0408 Electrodes specially adapted therefor for foetal cardiography A61B5/0448; for electroencephalograph signals A61B5/0478; for electromyography A61B5/0492
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient

Abstract

The present invention relates to sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin and for producing sensory. In the sensory in accordance with the invention, the electrode surfaces required for measuring of a signal and/or conductors required for transmitting of a signal have been fastened to the textile material of an outfit or accessory used on the body. In the method in accordance with the invention, the electrode surfaces required for the sensory and/or conductors are added to the textile material of an outfit or accessory used on the body.

Claims

1. Sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin, comprising:

conductive electrode surfaces for measuring signals fastened by a coating on textile material of an outfit configured to be worn on a body directly on the skin, forming a conductive coating, and

the conductive coating covering fibers of the textile itself thoroughly with a layer of desired thickness leaving loop areas between the coated fibers open and being formed to produce a membrane and effect an impervious nature of an electrode construction,

wherein both the coating and an impervious material that form the construction are coated on the textile material,

and the conductive coating and the impervious material are placed together overlapping each other in one plane to form the construction, which is both conductive and essentially impervious to moisture.

2. Sensory in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces have been designed in accordance with anatomy of a body and/or in a functional way from a measuring point of view.

3. Sensory in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces are flexible such that the shape of the surfaces stretches and damages weakening conductivity is not generated in the conductive surfaces.

4. Sensory in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fibers of the textile material comprise a first coating of the impervious material and then a subsequent coating of the conductive electrode surfaces leaving the open loop areas between the coated fibers.

5. Method for producing a sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin, comprising:

adding conductive electrode surfaces, for the sensory, by coating textile material of an outfit configured to be worn on a body directly on the skin, to form a conductive coating,

the conductive coating covering fibers of the textile itself thoroughly with a layer of desired thickness leaving loop areas between the coated fibers open and being formed to produce a membrane and effect an impervious nature of an electrode construction,

wherein both the coating and an impervious material that form the construction are coated on the textile material,

and the conductive coating and the impervious material are placed together overlapping each other in one plane to form the construction, which is both conductive and essentially impervious to moisture.

6. Method in accordance with claim 5, in which a surface of the textile material is vaporized with an electro conductive material to form the conductive electrode surfaces.

7. Method in accordance with claim 5, in which a conductive electrode surface is produced of silver/silver chloride Ag/AgCl.

8. Method in accordance with claim 5, in which a conductive electrode surface is produced of silicon, in which case a diamond surface is created.

9. Method in accordance with claim 5, in which a conductive electrode surface is produced of a material, which is absorbed with a substance improving and/or maintaining moisture and conductivity of the skin.

10. Method in accordance with claim 5, in which electrodes of the electrode surfaces and material surrounding the electrodes are produced of conductive and non-conductive material such that access is prevented of external moisture and impurities between the electrodes and the skin and/or the electrodes are isolated from each other.

11. Method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the fibers of the textile material are first coated by the impervious material and then subsequently coated with the conductive electrode surfaces leaving the open loop areas between the coated fibers.

12. Sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin, comprising:

a textile material having loops,

at least one non-conductive material layer which is impervious to moisture fastened by coating on the textile material of an outfit or accessory,

conductive electrode surfaces for measuring signals fastened by coating on the non-conductive material layer configured to be worn on a body directly on the skin,

conductors for transmitting a signal from the conductive electrode surfaces, said conductors fastened by coating on the non-conductive material layer, and

wherein the at least one non-conductive material layer is fastened by coating on the textile material and the conductive electrode surfaces are fastened by coating on the non-conductive material layer such that the loops of the textile material are open.

13. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the conductors are coated with an isolating material.

14. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces and/or the conductors are electro conductive plastics, rubbers or polymers.

15. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces are flexible.

16. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one non-conductive material layer has an area larger than the conductive electrode surfaces.

17. Sensory in accordance with claim 16, wherein the at least one non-conductive material layer surrounds the periphery of the conductive electrode surfaces.

18. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the conductors are each in electrical connection with a conductive electrode surface.

19. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the coating of at least one of the conductive electrode surfaces and conductors is a laminated coating.

20. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the coating of at least one of the non-conductive layer, conductive electrode surfaces and conductors is a vaporized coating.

29. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the textile material is a woven textile material.

30. Sensory in accordance with claim 12, wherein the non-conductive material layer and conductive electrode surfaces are coatings of the textile material.

21. A method for producing sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin comprising the steps of;

fastening at least one non-conductive material layer, which is impervious to moisture, by coating on a textile material of an outfit or accessory, said textile material having loops,

fastening conductive electrode surfaces by coating on the non-conductive material layer such that they are configured to be worn on a body directly on the skin,

fastening conductors, for transmitting a signal from the conductive electrode surfaces, by coating on the non-conductive material layer, and

wherein the at least one non-conductive material layer fastened by coating on the textile material and the conductive electrode surfaces are fastened by coating on the non-conductive material layer such that the loops of the textile material remain open.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising coating the conductors with an isolating material.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces and/or the conductors are electro conductive plastics, rubbers or polymers.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one non-conductive material layer has an area larger than the conductive electrode surfaces which are fastened thereto, and the conductive electrode surfaces are fastened to the non-conductive material layer such that the non-conductive material layer surrounds the periphery of the conductive electrode surfaces.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein the coating of at least one of the conductive electrode surfaces and conductors is lamination.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein the coating of at least one of the non-conductive layer, conductive electrode surfaces and conductors is vaporization.

27. A method according to claim 21, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces and/or conductors are fastened to the non-conductive material layer prior to fastening the non-conductive material layer to the textile material.

28. A method according to claim 21, wherein the conductive electrode surfaces are produced by silver/silver chloride or silicon.

31. A method according to claim 21, wherein the textile material is a woven textile material and the non-conductive material layer and conductive electrode surfaces are coatings of the textile material.