Wearable medical system with stretch-cable assembly

• US 9,700,225 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Meeker, Dallas Eugene, Finney, Daniel James, Kavounas, Gregory T., Foshee, Jr., Phillip Dewey, Medema, Douglas Keith, McEwen, Karen Elizabeth, Cowan, Kenneth F., Buchanan, Robert Reuben, Finch, David Peter, Gustavson, Laura Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/192,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A Wearable Medical System includes a support structure that is configured to be worn by a person. The WMS also includes an electronics module, a cable assembly, and at least one electrode that can be configured to be coupled to the support structure. The cable assembly includes a base member and a cable coupled to the base member. The support structure can be dimensioned relative to the person'"'"'s body to be worn with tension, and be resiliently stretched under the tension. The stretching of the support structure can stretch the base member of the cable assembly, thus increasing the effective length of the cable, while reducing or even eliminating slack in the cable.

Claims

1. A Wearable Medical System (WMS), comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a person, the support structure dimensioned relative to a body of the person to be so worn with nonzero tension, the support structure being resiliently stretched under the tension when so worn;

an electronics module configured to be coupled to the support structure;

a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the base member configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from the support structure, the base member being resiliently stretched by at least 4% along the main direction when the base member is so coupled and the support structure is so worn;

a cable coupled to the base member, the cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member the cable including two nodes;

a first electrode configured to be physically coupled to a skin of the person when the support structure is so worn, the first electrode being electrically coupled to the cable between the two nodes; and

a second electrode electrically coupled to the cable between the two nodes, and

in which the electronics module becomes coupled electrically with the skin of the person via the cable and via the first electrode when the base member is coupled to the support structure and the support structure is so worn.

2. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electronics module includes an energy storage module configured to store electrical energy, and

the energy is configured to be delivered via the cable and via the first electrode to the person'"'"'s skin when the support structure is so worn and the base member is coupled to the support structure.

3. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the first electrode is physically attached to the support structure.

4. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the first electrode is physically attached to the support structure, and

the second electrode can be coupled to the support structure but is not permanently physically attached to the support structure.

5. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the cable is arranged in a substantially serpentine manner with respect to the main direction.

6. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the support structure includes an electronics pocket, and

the electronics module is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being inserted in the electronics pocket.

7. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the support structure includes an electrode pocket, and

the first electrode is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being received in the electrode pocket.

8. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the first electrode and the second electrode are attached to the cable.

9. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical contact, and

in which the cable is configured to become coupled physically coupled with the first electrode or with the electronics module via the mechanical contact.

10. The WMS of claim 9, in which

the mechanical contact is a snap contact.

11. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the electronics module and the first electrode.

12. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the cable and the first electrode.

13. The WMS of claim 12, in which

the access circuit includes a resistor.

14. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

a second cable coupled to the base member.

15. The WMS of claim 14, further comprising:

an access circuit coupled between the cable and the first electrode.

16. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the first electrode is attached to the cable.

17. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the electronics module is attached to the cable.

18. The WMS of claim 17, in which

the first electrode is attached to the cable.

19. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes at least one of a fabric, an elastomer, and an elastic material.

20. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes a strand of an elastic material, and

the cable is attached to the strand at a plurality of points.

21. The WMS of claim 1, further comprising:

attachment implements that attach the cable to the base member.

22. The WMS of claim 1, in which

at least a portion of the cable is inside the base member.

23. The WMS of claim 1, in which

the base member includes two sheets of material sandwiching the cable and pressed against each other.

24. The WMS of claim 23, in which

the base member further includes an additional structure between the two sheets of material.

25. The WMS of claim 24, in which

the additional structure is made of film.

26. The WMS of claim 24, in which

the additional structure forms a lattice and a cable trace superimposed on the lattice, and

the cable is attached to the additional structure along the cable trace.

27. The WMS of claim 23, in which

the base member includes at least two perforations, and

the cable passes between the two perforations.

28. A Wearable Medical System (WMS), comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a person, the support structure dimensioned relative to a body of the person to be so worn with nonzero tension, the support structure being resiliently stretched under the tension when so worn;

an electronics module configured to be coupled to the support structure;

an electrode configured to be physically coupled to a skin of the person when the support structure is so worn;

a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the base member configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from the support structure, the base member being resiliently stretched by at least 4% along the main direction when the base member is so coupled and the support structure is so worn;

a first cable coupled to the base member, the first cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member; and

an access circuit coupled between the electronics module and the electrode, or coupled between the first cable and the electrode, and

in which the electronics module becomes coupled electrically with the skin of the person via the first cable and via the electrode when the base member is coupled to the support structure and the support structure is so worn.

29. The WMS of claim 28, in which

the electronics module includes an energy storage module configured to store electrical energy, and

the energy is configured to be delivered via the first cable and via the electrode to the person'"'"'s skin when the support structure is so worn and the base member is coupled to the support structure.

30. The WMS of claim 28, in which

the support structure includes an electrode pocket, and

the electrode is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being received in the electrode pocket.

31. The WMS of claim 28, in which

the electrode is attached to the first cable.

32. The WMS of claim 28, in which

the access circuit includes a resistor.

33. The WMS of claim 28, in which

the base member includes at least one of a fabric, an elastomer, and an elastic material.

34. The WMS of claim 28, further comprising:

a second cable coupled to the base member, and

in which the access circuit is coupled between the first cable and the electrode, and

the access circuit affects the electrical coupling between the first cable and the electrode responsive to a signal on the second cable.

35. The WMS of claim 34, in which

the access circuit includes a switch that affects the electrical coupling between the first cable and the electrode,

the access circuit also includes a selector circuit coupled to receive the signal on the second cable, and

the switch is operable responsive to an output of the selector circuit.