Garments having stretchable and conductive ink

• US 9,986,771 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Company Limited (Aiful Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Life Company Limited (Aiful Corporation)
• Inventors: Longinotti-Buitoni, Gianluigi, Aliverti, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Salvatore, Lynda
• Application Number:
  US14/612,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20150143601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600382, 600384, 600386, 600388-389, 600393, 600395, 600508-509, 607149, 607152, 29825
• 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 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/00 Details of garments or of their making buttons, pins, buckles, slide fasteners or the like A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A41H 43/04 Joining garment parts or blanks by gluing or welding mending garments by adhesives or adhesive patches A41H27/00 ; Gluing presses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 : Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 : Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 : Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 : Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 : Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/74 : with carbon or graphite; with carbides; with graphitic acids or their salts
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/83 : with metals; with metal-generating compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls; Reduction of metal compounds on textiles
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/263 : of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/564 : Polyureas, polyurethanes or other polymers having ureide or urethane links; Precondensation products forming them
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/08 : Processes in which the treating agent is applied in powder or granular form adhesives for multi-layer textile fabrics D06M17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 : Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2209/041 : Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2211/10 : Clothing
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0063 : Inorganic compounding ingredients, e.g. metals, carbon fibres, Na2CO3, metal layers; Post-treatment with inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/042 : Acrylic polymers D06N3/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/44 : using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/5257 : (Meth)acrylic acid
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/5285 : Polyurethanes; Polyurea; Polyguanides
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/08 : macromolecular
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 : antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 : Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 : Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• 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 1/092 : Dispersed materials, e.g. conductive pastes or inks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/095 : for polymer thick films, i.e. having a permanent organic polymeric binder
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0323 : Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09263 : Meander
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 : Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 : Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

Methods of forming garments having one or more stretchable conductive ink patterns. Described herein are method of making garments (including compression garments) having one or more highly stretchable conductive ink pattern formed of a composite of an insulative adhesive, a conductive ink, and an intermediate gradient zone between the adhesive and conductive ink. The conductive ink typically includes between about 40-60% conductive particles, between about 30-50% binder; between about 3-7% solvent; and between about 3-7% thickener. The stretchable conductive ink patterns may be stretched more than twice their length without breaking or rupturing.

Claims

1. A wearable electronics device, the device comprising:

a garment comprising a fabric; and

at least one stretchable and conductive ink pattern on the garment, wherein the conductive ink pattern comprises;

a layer of conductive ink having;

between about 40-60% conductive particles, between about 30-50% binder;

between about 3-7% solvent; and

between about 3-7% thickener;

a layer of an elastic adhesive on the garment; and

an intermediate region between the conductive ink and the adhesive, the intermediate region comprising a nonhomogeneous mixture of the conductive ink and the adhesive.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the elastic layer is greater than the thickness of the intermediate region and the thickness of the layer of conductive ink is less than the thickness of the elastic layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the garment is configured to exert a pressure of between about 3 mm Hg and about 70 mmHg on a subject'"'"'s body surface to allow a stable and continuous positioning of the garment onto the subject'"'"'s body.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive particles comprise particles of carbon black.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive particles comprise particles of one or more of:

carbon black, graphene, graphite, silver metal powder, copper metal powder, or iron metal powder.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the binder comprises acrylic binder.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises propylenyc glycol.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the thickener comprises polyurethanic thickener.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastic adhesive comprises a thermo-adhesive water-based glue that is electrically insulative.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an insulating resin at least partially over the layer of conductive ink.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink pattern comprises a plurality of layers of the conductive ink.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein a resistivity of the conductive trace is less than about 10 Kohms/square.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a resistivity of the conductive pattern varies with applied stretch.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink pattern is configured to stretch up to 500% of a resting length without breaking.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein conductive ink pattern is formed as a sensor.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink pattern is formed as a trace.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink pattern is configured as an electrode.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a conductive thread coupled to the garment and connected at one end to the conductive ink pattern.

19. A wearable electronics device, the device comprising:

a garment comprising a compression fabric; and

at least one stretchable and conductive ink pattern on the garment having a sheet resistivity of less than about 10 Kohms/square, wherein the conductive ink pattern is stretchable up to at least about 200% without breaking, and comprises;

a layer of conductive ink having;

between about 40-60% conductive particles, between about 30-50% binder;

between about 3-7% solvent; and

between about 3-7% thickener;

a layer of an elastic adhesive on the garment;

an intermediate region between the conductive ink and the adhesive, the intermediate region comprising a nonhomogeneous mixture of the conductive ink and the adhesive wherein the concentration of conductive ink decreases from a region closer to the layer of conductive ink to the layer of elastic adhesive; and

an insulating resin over at least a portion of the layer of conductive ink.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the conductive particles comprise particles of one or more of:

carbon black, graphene, graphite, silver metal powder, copper metal powder, or iron metal powder.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the binder comprises acrylic binder.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the solvent comprises propylenyc glycol.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the thickener comprises polyurethanic thickener.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the elastic adhesive comprises a thermo-adhesive water-based glue that is electrically insulative.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the conductive ink pattern is configured as an electrode.

26. The device of claim 19, further comprising a conductive thread coupled to the garment and connected at one end to the conductive ink pattern.

27. A wearable electronics device, the device comprising:

a garment comprising a compression fabric;

at least one stretchable and conductive ink pattern on the garment, wherein the conductive ink pattern comprises;

a layer of conductive ink having;

between about 40-60% conductive particles, between about 30-50% binder;

between about 3-7% solvent; and

between about 3-7% thickener;

a layer of an elastic adhesive on the garment; and

an intermediate region between the conductive ink and the adhesive, the intermediate region comprising a nonhomogeneous mixture of the conductive ink and the adhesive wherein the concentration of conductive ink decreases from a region closer to the layer of conductive ink to the layer of elastic adhesive; and

a conductive thread coupled to the compression fabric and electrically connected at one end region to the conductive ink, wherein the conductive thread extends along garment in a sinusoidal or zig-zag pattern.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the conductive thread is stitched onto the compression fabric.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the conductive thread is glued onto the compression fabric.