System method and device for monitoring physiological parameters of a person
Inventors
Russell, Brian K. • Woodward, Jonathan • Radtke, William • Dykes, Christopher
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9775561-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided is a system, method and portable device for monitoring physiological parameters of a person in the field.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a field-deployable physiological monitoring device in which an electronics portion is enclosed in a housing removably attachable to an interface fixedly attached to a garment in a chest area. The interface is provided with a receptacle portion and a plurality of interface sensor pads, and the housing is provided with a plurality of housing sensor pads comprising leaf springs. When the housing is snapped into the receptacle portion, the interface sensor pad protrusions orient the housing to ensure alignment of each leaf spring with and contact to a corresponding protrusion.
The apparatus includes a garment having stacked layers in which one of the stacked layers is an electrically conductive sensor layer configured to measure at least a first physiological signal of a user wearing the garment. At least one of the interface sensor pads is electrically coupled to a sensor ground, a second interface sensor pad is coupled to an ECG sensor, and a third interface sensor pad is coupled to a breathing rate sensor. At least one of the interface sensor pads is also electrically coupled to the sensor layer so that the garment-based conductive sensor layer participates in sensing at least the first physiological signal.
The housing is removably attached to the interface by snapping into the receptacle portion, so the leaf-spring housing sensor pads align with and contact the protrusions of the interface sensor pads in an attached state. The described attachment approach supports repeated removal and reattachment while maintaining alignment and electrical coupling between the housing sensor pads and the interface sensor pads. Multiple embodiments are described for snap/lock and removal mechanisms, including rim deformation with a concave receptacle, rotational insertion with grooves and edge protrusions, and a user-actuated release latch.
The electronics portion is coupled to the interface sensor pads and the garment-based sensor layer, and the described embodiments include electronics components such as a processor, wireless transceivers, LEDs, and internal memory. The monitored signals include physiological parameters associated with ECG and breathing rate, with additional outputs described in embodiments such as heart rate, temperature, activity, ECG data, and posture. Multiple wireless transceivers may be used for simultaneous communication.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim (clm-00001) defining the apparatus, with multiple dependent claims (clm-00002 to clm-00006) refining attachment mechanics and the measurable/electronics features. The independent claim includes inventive features centered on a removable snap attachment between a leaf-spring housing and an interface with protrusions, combined with a garment-based conductive sensor layer for physiological signal measurement.
Leaf spring housing sensor pads with snap alignment to protrusions
A housing enclosing electronics and comprising a plurality of housing sensor pads, each comprising a leaf spring, configured to be removably attached to an interface by snapping into a receptacle portion, wherein protrusions orient the housing so that each leaf spring aligns with and contacts the protrusion when snapped into the interface.
Garment conductive sensor layer measuring physiological signals
A garment having stacked layers including an electrically conductive sensor layer configured to measure at least a first physiological signal of a user wearing the garment, with at least one interface sensor pad electrically coupled to the sensor layer.
Chest-area interface fixedly attached to garment with sensor pad protrusions
An interface comprising a receptacle portion and a plurality of interface sensor pads, each comprising a protrusion, the interface configured to be fixedly attached to the garment in a chest area.
Interface sensor pad coupling to ECG sensor and breathing rate sensor with sensor ground
The interface sensor pads include a first interface sensor pad coupled to a sensor ground, a second interface sensor pad coupled to an ECG sensor, and a third interface sensor pad coupled to a breathing rate sensor.
Across the claim set, the core coverage is a garment-based physiological monitoring apparatus in which a removably snapped housing carrying leaf-spring sensor pads aligns and contacts protrusions on a garment-fixed interface, while a conductive sensor layer on the garment measures at least a first physiological signal and is electrically coupled to at least one interface sensor pad. Dependent claims further specify interface attachment using heat bonding and/or sewing, add a user-actuated engaging/non-engaging state transition for the housing relative to the interface, define electronics components (battery, wireless transceiver(s), processor, LED, internal memory), require at least two wireless transceivers with simultaneous communication capability, and define that the apparatus is configured to measure outputs including heart rate, temperature, activity, ECG data, breathing rate, and posture.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?