Selectively applied wearable medical sensors
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Abstract
A wearable garment includes medical sensor devices of well-known design that are selectively pressed against the skin of the wearer when it is desired to obtain medical readings, such as heart rate or temperature, or to apply treatment such as electrical pulses for defibrillation purposes. The garment incorporates one or more bands of flexible material that circumscribe portions of the wearer'"'"'s body, with at least one sensor device positioned on the garment between the band and the wearer'"'"'s body. To assure the comfort of the wearer, the circumference of the band can be shortened selectively from a first dimension, which loosely circumscribes a desired portion of the wearer'"'"'s body, to a second, lesser dimension, which more tightly circumscribes the wearer'"'"'s body and presses the sensor securely into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin. In one embodiment of the invention, the circumscribing band has the form and function of a drawstring loop, with ends adapted to be drawn in opposite directions so as to tighten the loop about the circumscribed portion of the user'"'"'s body. In another embodiment, the band is a continuous loop of material, incorporated into the structure of the garment, and formed of material such as Shape Memory Alloy wire, or any similar material, that has the characteristic of shortening in axial length in response to the application of electrical current. Such materials are well-known in various fields, such as robotics, for example, where they are identified as “muscle wires” or “Nitinol”.
129 Citations
17 Claims
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1-11. -11. Cancelled
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12. A garment for selectively applying at least one sensor against the skin of a wearer, said garment comprising:
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a wearable structure;
a sensor mounted to said wearable structure in position to contact a desired portion of the anatomy of a wearer of said structure;
a band of flexible material incorporated into said wearable structure in position to circumscribe a desired portion of the wearer'"'"'s anatomy with said sensor device being positioned to lie between said band and the wearer'"'"'s anatomy;
said band of flexible material defining a loop having a first circumferential dimension, and having a shape memory alloy that reduces in axial length in response to the passage of electrical current therethrough, wherein said shape memory alloy is capable of reducing said first circumferential dimension to a second circumferential dimension less than said first circumferential dimension so as to constrict the anatomy of a wearer of said garment and press said sensor against said anatomy. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of selectively applying at least one sensor against the anatomy of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning said sensor adjacent a desired portion of the anatomy of said subject;
surrounding said sensor and said subject with a constrictable band of flexible material; and
selectively constricting said constrictable band to press said sensor into contact with the anatomy of said subject by passing electric current though a shape memory alloy material which forms a component of said constrictable band.
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Specification