HEART ACTIVITY SENSOR STRUCTURE

• US 20140343391A1
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Korkala, Seppo, Pekonen, Elias, Kemppainen, Juhani, Rytky, Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 10,070,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A heart activity sensor structure includes a flexible textile substrate, and at least two electrodes with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate and configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity. The heart activity sensor also includes an electrostatic discharge shield applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity.

Claims

1. A heart activity sensor structure, comprising:

a flexible textile substrate;

at least two electrodes with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes are applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate and configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity; and

an electrostatic discharge shield applied on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity.

2. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, comprising at least the following plurality of layers:

a first layer comprising the at least two electrodes and configured to be placed against the skin of the exerciser;

a second layer arranged on top of the first layer and comprising the flexible textile substrate; and

a third layer arranged at least partially on top of the second layer and comprising the electrostatic discharge shield.

3. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, comprising at least the following plurality of layers:

a first layer comprising the at least two electrodes and configured to be placed against the skin of the exerciser;

a third layer arranged on top of the first layer and comprising the electrostatic discharge shield; and

a second layer arranged on top of the third layer and comprising the flexible textile substrate.

4. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield covers at least the area of the heart activity sensor structure in which the at least two electrodes are located.

5. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield is electrically insulated from the flexible textile substrate and from the at least two electrodes.

6. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 5, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield comprises at least one layer made of an electrically non-conducting material which provides for the electrical insulation.

7. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one grounding element coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield and configured to contact the skin of the exerciser.

8. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 7, wherein at least one location in which the at least one grounding element is configured to contact the skin is at the at least one end of the flexible textile substrate.

9. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 7, further comprising:

a conducting string structure for coupling the at least one grounding element and the electrostatic discharge shield, wherein the conducting string structure penetrates the flexible textile substrate.

10. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics module detachably coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer, wherein the electrostatic discharge shield comprises at least one through-hole in order to enable the coupling between the at least two electrodes and the electronics module.

11. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics module integrated as part of the heart activity sensor structure, coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer.

12. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 11, wherein the flexible textile substrate comprises a base for integrally mounting the electronics module, wherein the base comprises electrically conducting periphery element coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield.

13. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 11, wherein the electronics module comprises a casing covering the electronics module, wherein the casing comprises an electrically non-conducting outer surface and electrically conducting inner film, wherein the electrically conducting inner film is electrically coupled to the electrostatic discharge shield.

14. The heart activity sensor structure of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics module integrated configured at least to transmit information related to the heart activity to a training computer; and

a first part of electrostatic discharge shield on one side of the electronics module and a second part of electrostatic discharge shield on the other side of the electronics module, wherein the electronics module comprises a casing having a conducting structure configured to electrically connect the first part of electrostatic discharge shield to the second part of electrostatic discharge shield.

15. A method for manufacturing a heart activity sensor structure, comprising:

forming a flexible textile substrate;

applying at least two electrodes on one side of the flexible textile substrate with an electric insulation between each of the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to be placed against a skin of an exerciser in order to measure biosignals related to heart activity; and

applying an electrostatic discharge shield on one side of the flexible textile substrate for protecting the at least two electrodes from static electricity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible textile substrate, the at least two electrodes, the electrostatic discharge shield are each comprised in a dedicated layer, and the method comprises attaching the layers on top of each other.