Garment for monitoring physiological properties

• US 8,340,740 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deltatre AG (Deltatre SpA)
• Original Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Inventors: Holzer, Christian, Habel, Thorsten, Gierich, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US12/579,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 600/382, 600/388, 600/389, 600/509, 439/909
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0283 Stretchable printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

A garment enables the monitoring of physiological properties of a person wearing the garment. The measuring sensors are integrated into the garment and are positioned by wearing the garment to the correct position of the body of the person wearing the garment. The device for monitoring the physiological properties containing the measuring electronics is located in the back portion of the garment. This device is either fixedly integrated into the garment or it can be removed.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a garment;

a monitoring device for monitoring physiological properties of a person wearing the garment, wherein the monitoring device is positioned on a rear side of the garment, wherein the monitoring device is adapted to receive and further process physical signals characterizing the physiological properties to be monitored of the person wearing the garment, and wherein the monitoring device is adapted to store and transmit measuring results resulting from the further processing of the physical signals, the monitoring device being detachably connected to the garment and comprising conductive contacts on a surface;

two conductive electrodes;

conductive contacts on a surface of the rear side of the garment; and

conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts of the monitoring device through the conductive contacts of the garment;

wherein the conductive contacts of the monitoring device can detachably be connected to the conductive contacts of the garment;

the conductive electrodes form an inner surface of the garment;

the conductive electrodes are located symmetrical with respect to a spine of the person wearing the garment when the garment is worn; and

each of the conductive electrodes extends laterally between floating ribs and a costal arch of the person wearing the garment beginning at a front side of the garment in the direction towards the rear side of the garment up to between scapulae of the person wearing the garment when the garment is worn.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the conductive electrodes are made of conductive stretch fabric;

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts of the garment are made of conductive thread; and

the conductive contacts on the surface of the rear side of the garment and the conductive contacts on the surface of the monitoring device are hook and loop fasteners.

3. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment also comprises non-conductive fibers and the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts of the garment are woven into the non-conductive fibers of the garment on the surface of the garment.

4. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the garment is made of non-conductive fibers, and the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts of the garment are adhered or stitched onto the surface of the garment onto the part of the garment that is made of non-conductive fibers.

5. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a processor, a memory, an USB interface, a firewire interface, a wi-fi module, a Bluetooth interface, a GSM module, a GPRS module, an UMTS module or a GPS module.

6. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physiological properties to be monitored measure the heart rate of the person wearing the garment, and the monitoring device is configured to measure electrical potentials at the electrodes.

7. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the conductive contacts of the garment are attached on an outer surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located in the state worn either left or right of the spine of the person wearing the garment.

8. An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive contacts of the garment when being worn are located in a shoulder area of the person wearing the garment; and

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts have an identical electrical resistance.

9. An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the conductive contacts of the garment are located when being worn in a loin area of the person wearing the garment; and

the conductive connections from the conductive electrodes to the conductive contacts have an identical electrical resistance.

10. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the conductive contacts are attached on an outer surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located when being worn symmetrically right and left of the spine of the person wearing the garment.

11. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the conductive contacts are attached on an inner surface on the rear side of the garment; and

the conductive contacts of the garment are located in the neck area of the person wearing the garment when being worn.