Extended optical range reflective system for monitoring motion of a member

• US 20050106977A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Invista North America Sarl (Invista)
• Inventors: Coulston, George W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/301
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3008 Woven fabric has an elastic quality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3024 Including elastic strand or strip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3382 Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/413 Including an elastic strand

Abstract

A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance. The source and detector may be attached to the fabric in relative positions such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into the aperture of acceptance as the fabric stretches in response to motion.

Claims

1. A fabric, comprising:

a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers,

wherein an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance changes as the fabric is stretched.

2. The fabric of claim 1 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

19. The fabric of claim 1 wherein the fabric exhibits the light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

3. A garment for use in a monitoring system for monitoring at least one predetermined physiological parameter of a wearer, comprising:

at least a portion of said garment formed from a fabric exhibiting a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers,

wherein an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to at least one predetermined physiological parameter of a wearer of the garment.

4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

20. The garment of claim 3 wherein the fabric exhibits the light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

5. A system for monitoring at least one predetermined physiological parameter of a wearer, comprising:

a garment comprising a fabric exhibiting a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers,

an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to at least one predetermined physiological parameter of the garment wearer;

at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers; and

at least one detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance,

wherein the source and detector are associated with the fabric in relative positions such that reception of incident radiation detected by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into the aperture of acceptance as the fabric stretches in response to at least one predetermined physiological parameter of the garment wearer.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises:

a signal processor for converting a signal from the detector representative of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers incident on the detector into a signal representative of a predetermined physiological parameter of the garment wearer.

7. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

8. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the fabric is detachable from the garment.

9. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the fabric is integral with the garment.

10. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein

the signal processor is mounted in the garment, and wherein the garment further comprises:

a conductive pathway disposed on or in the garment connecting the detector and the signal processor.

21. The system of claim 5 wherein the fabric exhibits the light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers;

wherein

the source provides radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers; and

wherein

the detector responds to radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

11. A fabric for use in system for monitoring motion of a structure, comprising:

a fabric disposed on or about the structure, said fabric exhibiting a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers;

wherein an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion of the structure about which the fabric is disposed.

12. The fabric of claim 11 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

22. The fabric of claim 11 wherein the fabric exhibits the light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

13. A textile mantle for use in a monitoring system for monitoring motion of a structure, comprising:

at least a portion of the mantle formed from a fabric exhibiting a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers,

wherein an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion of the structure about which the mantle is disposed.

14. The textile mantle of claim 13 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

23. The textile mantle of claim 13 wherein the fabric exhibits the light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

15. A system for monitoring motion of a structure comprising:

a textile mantle mounted to at least a portion of the structure, at least a portion of the mantle being formed from a fabric exhibiting a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers,

wherein an amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to an amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion of the first component;

at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers; and

at least one detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance and responsive to incident radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers to produce a signal representative thereof,

wherein the source and detector are associated with the fabric in relative positions such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into the aperture of acceptance as the fabric stretches in response to motion of the first component.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the source and detector are attached to the fabric.

17. The monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises:

a signal processor for converting the signal from the detector representative of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers incident on the detector into a signal representative of motion of the first component.

18. The monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.

24. The monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the fabric exhibits light reflection property when illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers;

wherein

the source provides radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers; and

wherein

the detector responds to radiation having wavelength(s) in the range from about four hundred (400) nanometers to about eight hundred (800) nanometers.

25. A method for monitoring the motion of a fabric comprising:

directing light having wavelength(s) in the range of from about 400 to about 2200 nanometers toward a fabric with a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property;

stretching the fabric; and

measuring the amount of light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric during stretch of the fabric and recovery of the fabric.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the fabric comprises:

a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns, wherein

each stretchable yarn is formed as a combination of a covered elastic yarn and a hard yarn.