GARMENTS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS FOR SENSORS TO CONTACT SKIN

• US 20100251454A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul N Ware
• Original Assignee: Paul N Ware
• Inventors: Kiernan, Pamela
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

A garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject includes a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s torso. The torso portion defines an exterior space external to the interior space. A plurality of access fittings are defined in the torso portion. Each access fitting is configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

Claims

1. A garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject, the garment comprising:

a) a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s torso, and defining an exterior space external to the interior space, wherein at least one opening is defined in the torso portion from the exterior space to the interior space for accommodating the garment being put on and taken off of the subject'"'"'s torso;

c) a plurality of access fittings defined in the torso portion, each access fitting being configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

2. A garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the torso portion is configured to be worn on a subject'"'"'s lower torso, and wherein the garment further comprises two legs attached to the torso portion for accommodating the subject'"'"'s legs, and wherein each leg includes a plurality of access fittings.

3. A garment as recited in claim 2, wherein each leg includes an access fitting adjacent a hamstring portion of the leg, configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s hamstring, and an access fitting adjacent a quadriceps portion of the leg, opposite the hamstring portion, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s quadriceps.

4. A garment as recited in claim 3, wherein the torso portion includes a plurality of access fittings proximate a gluteus maximus portion located superior to the access fittings in the hamstring portion, configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus.

5. A garment as recited in claim 2, wherein each leg includes at least one access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lower leg muscles.

6. A garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the torso portion is configured to be worn on a subject'"'"'s upper torso, and wherein the garment further comprises two sleeves attached to the torso portion for accommodating the subject'"'"'s arms, and wherein each sleeve includes a plurality of access fittings.

7. A garment as recited in claim 6, wherein each sleeve includes at least one upper arm access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s upper arm muscles.

8. A garment as recited in claim 7, wherein each sleeve includes at least one lower arm access fitting inferior with respect to the upper arm access fitting thereof for providing sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lower arm muscles.

9. A garment as recited in claim 6, wherein the torso portion includes at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s abdominal muscles.

10. A garment as recited in claim 9, wherein the torso portion includes at least one chest access fitting superior with respect to the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s chest muscles.

11. A garment as recited in claim 9, wherein the torso portion includes at least one lumbar access fitting opposite the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lumbar muscles.

12. A garment as recited in claim 11, wherein the torso portion includes at least one shoulder access fitting superior with respect to the at least one lumbar access fitting for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s shoulder muscles.

13. A garment as recited in claim 11, wherein the torso portion includes at least one gluteus maximus access fitting inferior with respect to the at least one lumbar access fitting for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus.

14. A garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each access fitting includes a slit defined through the torso portion for passage of a portion of a sensor device therethrough.

15. A garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each access fitting includes a patch of electrically conductive material configured to allow sensor access to the subject'"'"'s skin by way of electrical signals conducted from the subject'"'"'s skin, through the patch, to the sensor with the sensor located completely outside the interior space of the torso portion of the garment.

16. A shirt for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject comprising:

a) a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s upper torso, and defining an exterior space external to the interior space, wherein at least one opening is defined in the torso portion from the exterior space to the interior space for accommodating the garment being put on and taken off of the subject'"'"'s upper torso;

b) a pair of sleeves attached to the torso portion and defining arm portions of the interior space for accommodating the subject'"'"'s arms; and

c) a plurality of access fittings defined in at least one of the torso portion and the pair of sleeves, each access fitting being configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

17. A shirt as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of access fittings includes at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s abdominal muscles, at least one chest access fitting superior with respect to the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s chest muscles, at least one lumbar access fitting opposite the at least one abdominal access fitting configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s lumbar muscles, and at least one shoulder access fitting superior with respect to the at least one lumbar access fitting for providing access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s shoulder muscles.

18. A shirt as recited in claim 17, wherein each sleeve includes at least one upper arm access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s upper arm muscles.

19. A lower garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject, the lower garment comprising:

a) a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s lower torso, and defining an exterior space external to the interior space, wherein a waist opening is defined in the torso portion from the exterior space to the interior space for accommodating the garment being put on and taken off of the subject'"'"'s lower torso;

b) a pair of legs attached to the torso portion defining legs of the interior space for accommodating the subjects legs; and

c) a plurality of access fittings defined in at least one of the torso portion and the pair of legs, each access fitting being configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.

20. A lower garment as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of access fittings includes at least one access fitting adjacent a hamstring portion of each leg of the garment, configured to provide access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s hamstrings, an access fitting adjacent a quadriceps portion of the leg, opposite the hamstring portion, configured to provide access to skin adjacent to the subject'"'"'s quadriceps, and at least one gluteus maximus access fittings proximate a gluteus maximus portion located superior to the access fittings in the hamstring portion, configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s gluteus maximus.

21. A lower garment as recited in claim 20, wherein each leg includes at least one shin access fitting configured to provide sensor access to skin adjacent the subject'"'"'s shin muscles, and at least one calf access fitting opposite the at least one shin access fitting configured to provide sensor access to the subject'"'"'s calf muscles.