Garment for physiological characteristics monitoring

• US 9,526,419 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Czapla, Larry James, Derchak, P. Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Akar, Serkan
• Application Number:
  US12/869,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 600/301, 600/534, 600/409
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 : Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 : Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

Monitoring systems for noninvasively monitoring physiological parameters of a subject, including (i) a wearable monitoring garment adapted to cover at least a portion of a subject'"'"'s torso, and (ii) a magnetometer system that is embedded in the monitoring garment, the magnetometer system including at least paired first transmission and receiver magnetometers and paired second transmission and receiver magnetometers, the magnetometer system being responsive to changes in distance between the paired magnetometers.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for noninvasively monitoring parameters of a subject engaged in a physical activity, the system comprising:

a monitoring garment configured to cover a portion of a subject'"'"'s torso; and

a magnetometer system embedded in the monitoring garment and comprising a first transmission magnetometer, a first receive magnetometer, a second transmission magnetometer, and a second receive magnetometer,

wherein the first transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a first position, a first magnetic field,

wherein the first receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a second position, the first magnetic field,

wherein the second transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a third position, a second magnetic field,

wherein the second receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a fourth position, the first and second magnetic fields,

wherein the first transmission magnetometer, the first receive magnetometer, the second transmission magnetometer, and the second receive magnetometer are embedded in the monitoring garment,

wherein the magnetometer system is responsive to changes in distance between the first and second positions, the third and fourth positions, and the first and fourth positions, and is further configured to generate and transmit a first signal representing, a change in distance between the first and second positions, a second signal representing a change in distance between the third and fourth positions, and a third signal representing a change in distance between the first and fourth positions,

and wherein the monitoring system is configured to process, using a processor system, a plurality of signals to determine a plurality of respiratory parameters in real time including the existence of a hypopnea event, and is configured to generate and transmit performance parameter signals.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring garment comprises a shirt.

3. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein, when the monitoring garment is worn by the subject, the first position is on the front of the subject proximate the subject'"'"'s abdomen, the second position is on the back of the subject proximate the same axial plane of the first position, the fourth position is on the front of the subject proximate the base of the subject'"'"'s sternum, and the third position is on the back of the subject proximate the same axial plane of the fourth position, whereby the first signal represents a displacement of the subject'"'"'s abdominal region, the second signal represents a displacement of the subject'"'"'s rib cage, and the third signal represents a displacement of the subject'"'"'s chest wall.

4. The monitoring system claim 1, further comprising:

a processor system adapted to process the first, second, and third signals; and

a transmission system to transmit the first, second, and third signals from the magnetometer system to the processor system.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, therein the processor system is adapted to determine at least one respiratory parameter from the firs second, and third signals.

6. The monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the transmission system comprises a wireless communication link and associated protocol.

7. The monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the transmission system comprises a wired transmission network.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor system and the magnetometer system are carried by the monitoring garment.

9. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the shirt is sleeveless.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter signals detect changes indicating a transition between an aerobic state of a subject and an anaerobic state of the subject.

11. A monitoring system for noninvasively monitoring parameters of a subject engaged in a physical activity, the system comprising:

a shirt configured to cover a portion of a subject'"'"'s torso;

a magnetometer system embedded in the shirt and comprising a first transmission magnetometer, a first receive magnetometer, a second transmission magnetometer, and a second receive magnetometer;

a physiological sensor system embedded in the shirt and configured to detect a physiological parameter associated with the subject, aid to generate and transmit a physiological parameter signal representing the detected physiological parameter;

a processor system embedded in the shirt; and

a transmission system embedded in the shirt,

wherein the first transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a first position, a first magnetic field.

wherein the first receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a second position, the first magnetic field,

wherein the second transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a third position, a second magnetic field,

wherein the second receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a fourth position, the first and second magnetic fields,

wherein the magnetometer system is responsive to changes in distance between the first and second positions, the third and fourth positions, and the first and fourth positions, and is further configured to generate and transmit a first signal representing a change in distance between the first and second positions, a second signal representing a change in distance between the third and fourth positions, and a third signal representing a change in distance between the first and fourth positions,

wherein the processor system is adapted to determine a respiratory parameter from the first, second, and third signals, and is configured to generate and transmit a respiratory parameter signal including the existence of a hypopnea event representing the respiratory parameter and the physiological parameter signal,

wherein the transmission system is configured to transmit the first, second, and third signals, and the physiological parameter signal, from the magnetometer system and the physiological sensor system to the processor system,

wherein the physiological parameter comprises at least one of blood oxygen level, blood flow, hydration status, calories burned, and muscle fatigue, and wherein the processing system is configured to generate and transmit performance parameter signals.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein, when the shirt is worn by the subject, the first position is on the, front of the subject proximate the subject'"'"'s abdomen, the second position is on the back of the subject proximate the same axial plane of the first position, the fourth position is on the front of the subject proximate the base of the subject'"'"'s sternum, and the third position is on the back of the subject proximate the same axial plane of the fourth position, whereby the first signal represents a displacement of subject'"'"'s abdominal region, the second signal represents a displacement of the subject'"'"'s rib cage, and the third signal represents>

a displacement of the subject'"'"'s chest wall.

13. The monitoring system of claim 12, herein the transmission system comprises a wireless communication link.

14. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the transmission system comprises a wired transmission network.

15. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the shirt is sleeveless.

16. The monitoring system of claim 11, further comprising a monitoring system configured to receive the respiratory parameter and physiological parameter signals from the processor system, and to recognize and display the respiratory parameter represented by the respiratory parameter signal and the physiological parameter represented by the physiological parameter signal.

17. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the performance parameter signals detect changes in patterns of tidal volume during post-exercise recover:

such that it measures improvements in a subject'"'"'s fitness level over a course of a training regime.

18. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the performance parameter signals detect changes indicating a transition between an aerobic state of a subject and an anaerobic state of the subject.

19. A monitoring system for noninvasively monitoring parameters of a subject engaged in a physical activity, the system comprising:

a monitoring garment configured to cover a portion of a subject'"'"'s torso; and

a magnetometer system embedded in the monitoring garment and comprising a first transmission magnetometer, a first receive magnetometer, a second transmission magnetometer, and a second receive magnetometer,

wherein the first transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a first position, a first magnetic field,

wherein the first receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a second position, the first magnetic field,

wherein the second transmission magnetometer is configured to generate, at a third position, a second magnetic field,

wherein the second receive magnetometer is configured to receive, at a fourth position, the first and second magnetic fields,

wherein the first transmission magnetometer, the first receive magnetometer, the second transmission magnetometer, and the second receive magnetometer are embedded in the monitoring garment,

wherein the magnetometer system is responsive to changes in distance between the first and second positions, the third and fourth positions, and the first and fourth positions, and is further configured to generate and transmit a first signal representing a change in distance between the first and second positions, a second signal representing a change in distance between the third and fourth positions, and a third signal representing a change in distance between the first and fourth positions,

wherein the monitoring system is configured to process using a processor system, a plurality of signals to determine a plurality of respiratory parameters in real time including the existence a hypopnea event, and is configured to generate and transmit performance parameter signals to detect changes in patterns of tidal volume during post-exercise recovery, such that it measures improvements in a subject'"'"'s fitness level over a course of a training regime.