Sensor for measurement of physiological electrical signals
Inventors
Moltani, Lara Alessia Laura • Andreoni, Giuseppe
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10736568-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sensor for measuring physiological electric signals, including: a textile electrode including a detecting portion having an electrically conductive detecting surface area; a peripheral textile portion; a first electrical connection electrically connected to an acquisition and processing device, and an electrical connection that electrically connects the textile electrode to the electrical connector, the electrode having a three-dimensional textile structure made by interweaving warp threads and weft threads, the detecting portion including an upper textile layer and a lower textile layer, arranged below the upper layer and joined to the latter along a perimeter joining line so as to create a cavity defined by the joining line and to define a region outside the joining line that includes the peripheral textile portion, the cavity being filled by a filler material so that the detecting textile portion protrudes in height with respect to the peripheral textile portion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sensor for measuring physiological electric signals from a skin of an individual using a first textile electrode. The textile electrode includes a detecting textile portion for detecting physiological electric signals and a peripheral textile portion directly adjacent to the detecting textile portion, where the detecting textile portion has an electrically conductive detecting surface area intended to come into contact with the skin. An electrically conductive and elastic textile string forms a first electrical connection from the textile electrode to a first electrical connector connected to an acquisition and processing device of the physiological signals detected.
The textile electrode is defined by a three-dimensional textile structure made by weaving together warp threads and weft threads. The detecting textile portion includes an upper textile layer with an upper surface extending over the detecting surface area and a lower textile layer arranged below and joined to the upper textile layer along a perimeter joining line. This joining creates a cavity defined by the perimeter joining line and a region outside the perimeter joining line that comprises the peripheral textile portion.
The cavity is filled by a filler material so that the detecting textile portion protrudes in height with respect to the peripheral textile portion. In further embodiments, the detecting surface area comprises a plurality of recesses so that the detecting textile portion protrudes outwards by a variable height, with the recesses defining local variation in height of the detecting surface area. The textile string is a bundle of conductive threads made up of fibres of polymeric material having high elastic elongation at break and coated with a conductive layer.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims present one shared core structure: a textile electrode sensor with an electrically conductive, elastic textile-string connection to an acquisition and processing device, and a three-dimensional woven electrode in which a cavity is filled by a filler material so the detecting portion protrudes relative to a peripheral portion. Across the independent claims, there are additional inventive limitations concerning connector-electrode integration and providing a variable-height detecting surface through recesses.
Three-dimensional woven textile electrode with perimeter cavity and height-protruding detecting portion
A first textile electrode having a three-dimensional textile structure made by weaving together warp threads and weft threads, where the detecting textile portion comprises an upper textile layer and a lower textile layer joined along a perimeter joining line to create a cavity that is filled by a filler material so that the detecting textile portion protrudes in height with respect to the peripheral textile portion.
Electrically conductive elastic textile-string electrical connection to an acquisition and processing device
A first electrical connection configured to electrically connect the first textile electrode to a first electrical connector, the first electrical connection being electrically conductive and elastic textile string, wherein the first electrical connector is electrically connected to an acquisition and processing device of the physiological signals detected by the first textile electrode.
Conductive bundle of elastically extensible polymeric fibres coated with a conductive layer as the textile string
The textile string of the first electrical connection is a bundle of conductive threads made up of fibres of polymeric material having high elastic elongation at break and coated with a conductive layer.
Variable height detecting surface via recesses
The detecting surface area comprises a plurality of recesses so that the detecting textile portion protrudes outwards by a variable height, the recesses defining local variation in height of the detecting surface area.
Overall claim coverage defines a wearable textile-electrode sensor architecture grounded in a three-dimensional woven electrode with a perimeter-defined cavity filled by a filler material to raise the electrically conductive detecting portion, an electrically conductive and elastic textile-string electrical connection to an acquisition and processing device, and further specifies the textile string as a conductive bundle coated on elastically extensible polymeric fibres. One independent claim additionally defines variable-height outward protrusion by providing a detecting surface area with recesses.
Stated Advantages
Improves skin contact by providing the detecting textile portion that protrudes in height relative to the peripheral textile portion.
Provides local variation in height of the detecting surface area via recesses.
Documented Applications
Wearable garment applications monitoring physiological electric signals using the disclosed textile-electrode sensor structure fixed in place by a polymer band.
Measurement of physiological electric signals including ECG/EEG/EMG/EDA/GSR as disclosed in the document summary.
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