Abstract:
According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a knitted smart garment. The garment includes a tubular form having variable elasticity and at least one conductive textile electrode for sensing an electrical vital signal, such as a clinical-level ECG signal. The garment further includes at least one elastic and loose conductive stripe, having a first end and a second end. The first end of the at least one conductive stripe is securely attached to a respective conductive textile electrode, and the second end of the at least one conductive stripe is operatively connected with a processor. The elasticity and looseness of the at least one conductive stripe is configured to prevent a pulling force from being applied to the respective conductive textile electrode, when the garment is stretched.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) from U.S. provisional application 61/950,139 filed Mar. 9, 2014, and the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) from U.S. provisional application 62/006,102 filed May 31, 2014, the disclosure of which are included herein by reference. 
         [0002]    This application also relates to the PCT/IL2013/050963 (&#39;963), the disclosure of which is included herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to real-time health monitoring systems and more particularly, the present invention relates to a knitted garment having a tubular form at preconfigured locations, transferring ECG or other signals from textile electrodes to a selected area of the garment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
       [0004]    Monitoring systems for monitoring of physiological parameters of a living being are well known in prior art. For example, PCT/IL2012/000248, the disclosure of which is included herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a wearable health monitoring system that continuously checks the wellbeing of a person that, typically, is considered healthy, covering a significant range of health hazards that may cause a significant life style change/limitation, and provides an alert as early as possible—all this, with no significant limitation to the normal life style of the person bearing the system. 
         [0005]    Unlike conventional gel electrodes, which are directly applied to the living being&#39;s skin, using a conductive gel, textile electrodes are dry contact sensors adapted for use in measuring ECG signals and other vital signals such (EEG), electroencephalogram (EOG), electrooculogram and other medical measurements on the skin without any skin preparation, such as needed with wet electrodes, for example, shaving hairy skin 
         [0006]    To improve performance over conventional wet ECG sensors and to be able to conduct continuous long term monitoring, a textile substrate is used to develop dry textile electrodes for sensing physiological parameters of a living being such as ECG signals. One such textile electrodes are disclosed in PCT application PCT/IL2013/050964, filed Nov. 23, 2013, titled “float loop textile electrodes and methods of knitting thereof”, the disclosures of which is included herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0007]    There is however a need to transfer the sensed electrical signals from the textile electrodes to a processing unit for collecting and processing the sensed data. 
         [0008]    Reference is made to  FIG. 1  (prior art) depicting an open smart garment  20 , having multiple textile electrodes  50  integrally knitted therein. Smart garment  20  is configured to receive a processing unit  70 .  FIG. 1  demonstrates the need to electrically connect each of the textile electrodes  50  to processing unit  70 . 
         [0009]    One solution is to integrally knit conductive traces form each of the textile electrodes  50  to a docking station configured to receive processing unit  70 . This solution is disclosed in PCT application PCT/IL2013/050963, titled “vertical conductive textile traces and methods of knitting thereof”, filed Nov. 23, 2013, the disclosures of which is included herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0010]      FIG. 2 a    (prior art) schematically illustrates an exemplary garment  20 , having a tubular form, wherein textile electrodes  50  are knitted therein and are individually operatively connected to a processing unit  70 .  FIG. 2 b    (prior art) depicts a front view of an exemplary garment, wherein the textile electrodes  50  are designed to measure a 15-lead ECG signal, and are connected to a processing unit (not shown) by respective conductive traces  60 . 
         [0011]    The conductive traces  60  are knitted therein as part of the fabrication of the garment, wherein the conductivity, in particular between adjacent knitting courses in the vertical direction, can support the transfer of clinical level ECG signals from a textile electrode, along the fabric, to a selected area in the garment preconfigured to host the processing unit. Since the normal knitting direction of a tubular form is substantially horizontal, conductive traces  90  that are knitted therein in a horizontal direction maintain a stable conductivity. 
         [0012]    The good conductivity should prevail when the fabric is stretched to different directions during wearing, which typically requires that the conductive physical means for transferring the sensed electrical signals from textile electrodes  50  to processing unit  70 . This may entail that the conductive physical means is made of materials having high elasticity. This may entail that good conductive should prevail when the fabric is stretching, in particular between adjacent knitting courses in the vertical direction. 
         [0013]    The good conductivity of the conductive physical means should prevail when using any type of basic fabric yarns (cotton, manmade yarns, synthetic yarns, metallic yarns, etc.). 
         [0014]    The good conductivity should prevail after a preconfigured number of washes, including in a washing machine. 
         [0015]    The good conductivity should prevail in any knitting design, location and shape in the fabric. 
         [0016]    More so, signals detecting is the motion artifact occurring during movement of the person  10 , wearing garment  20 . The motion artifact problem may increase as a result of the large area of the textile electrodes  50  and/or the conductive traces  60 , moving with respect to the skin of user  10 . It should be noted that the larger the area of the textile electrodes  50  and/or the conductive traces  60  is, the higher the capacitance between the skin and textile electrode  50  and conductive traces  60  is. 
         [0017]    There is therefore a need and it would be advantageous to provide conductive physical means for transferring the sensed electrical signals from textile electrodes to a target receiving unit that provides high conductivity and low sensitivity to motion artifacts. 
       DEFINITIONS 
       [0018]    The term “seamless monitoring”, as used herein with conjunction with wearable monitoring devices, refers to a device that when worn by an average person, wherein the device puts no significant limitation to the normal life style of that person and preferably not seen by anybody when used and not disturbingly felt by the user while wearing it. Furthermore, no activity is required from the monitored person in order for the system to provide a personal-alert when needed. It should be noted that people that pursue non-common life style, such as soldiers in combat zone or in combat training zone, or firefighters in training and action, or athletes in training or competition may utilize non-seamless monitoring devices. As the “seamless monitoring” characteristics refers also to the user&#39;s behavior, the wearable component is preferably an item that is normally worn (e.g., underwear) and not some additional item to be worn just for getting the alert. It should be noted that the term “seamless monitoring” differ from the notion of commonly known notion of a seamless clothing item that refers to tubular form clothing having no seams for forming the tubular form. 
         [0019]    The terms “underwear” or “garment”, as used herein with conjunction with wearable clothing items, refers to wearable clothing items with seamless monitoring capabilities that preferably, can be tightly worn adjacently to the body of a monitored living being, typically adjacently to the skin, including undershirts, sport shirts, brassiere, underpants, special hospital shirt, socks and the like. Typically, the terms “underwear” or “garment” refer to a clothing item that is worn adjacently to the external surface of the user&#39;s body, under external clothing or as the only clothing, in such way that the fact that there are sensors embedded therein, is not seen by any other person in regular daily behavior. An underwear item may also include a clothing item that is not underwear per se, but still is in direct and preferably tight contact with the skin, such as a T-shirt, sleeveless or sleeved shirts, sport-bra, tights, dancing-wear, and pants. The sensors, in such a case, can be embedded in such a way that are still unseen by external people to comply with the “seamless monitoring” requirement. 
         [0020]    The terms “course” and “line segment”, are used herein as related terms. The tubular form of the garment is knitted on a knitting machine, such as a Santoni knitting machine, where the tubular form is knitted in a spiral having substantially horizontal lines. A single spiral loop/circle us referred to herein as a course and a portion of a course is referred to as line segment. 
         [0021]    The term “vertical conductive trace”, is used herein, refers to knitting a lead wire, made of conductive yarns, and capable of transferring electrical signals across knitted line segment. 
         [0022]    The phrase “clinical level ECG”, as used herein with conjunction with ECG measurements, refers to the professionally acceptable number of leads, sensitivity and specificity needed for a definite conclusion by most cardiology physicians to suspect a risky cardiac problem (for example, arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, heart failure) that require immediate further investigation or intervention. Currently, it is at least a 12-leads ECG and preferably 15-lead ECG, coupled with a motion/posture compensation element, and a real-time processor with adequate algorithms. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A principle intention of the present invention is to provide conductive physical means for transferring the sensed electrical signals from textile electrodes to a target receiving unit. Typically, the conductive physical means is composed of elastic conductive yarns, herein referred to as a “conductive stripe”. The conductive stripe is made of yarns selected form a group of yarns including manmade yarns, synthetic yarns and metallic yarns. The conductive stripe provides high conductivity, elasticity and low sensitivity to motion artifacts. 
         [0024]    Another principle intention of the present invention is to connect textile electrodes to a signal receiving unit by a flexible and loose conductive stripe, such that the conductive stripe does not apply pulling forces or applies minimal pulling forces on the textile electrode securely connected thereto. Thereby, during motion, the textile electrode remains stably in position with respect to the skin of the user, while the signals, such as ECG signals, transfer to a receiving unit such as a docking station. 
         [0025]    It should be noted that the signals can be any sensed electric signals (e.g. respiration) and it is not restricted to ECG signals. It should also be noted that any non-horizontal angle can be knitted using this invention by a continuous sequence of vertical lines. 
         [0026]    It should be further noted that with respect to the embodiments provided by PCT application PCT/IL2013/050963, the embodiments of the present invention show significant reduction of motion artifact when the user is in motion, due to the fact that the new conductive elastic stripes are attached to the basic garment only in a few points such as to prevents the pulling the respective electrodes, which pulling may create unnecessary friction of the textile electrode with the skin. Furthermore, the present invention provides embodiment that substantially reduce the quantity and cost of materials and labor. 
         [0027]    According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a knitted smart garment. The garment includes a tubular form having a preconfigured elasticity, typically varied elasticity, and at least one conductive textile electrode for sensing an electrical vital signal, such as a clinical-level ECG signal. The garment further includes at least one elastic conductive stripe, having a first end and a second end. 
         [0028]    The first end of the at least one conductive stripe is securely and conductively attached to a respective conductive textile electrode, and the second end of the at least one conductive stripe is operatively connected with a processor. 
         [0029]    The elasticity of the at least one conductive stripe is configured to prevent a pulling force from being applied to the respective conductive textile electrode, when the garment is stretched. 
         [0030]    The at least one conductive stripe is insulated by insulation means, wherein the insulation means are selected from the group including at least one insulating adhered stripe ( 110 ), sleeves ( 170 ), non-conductive coating and non-conductive textile material that is knitted, weaved, braided or covered on the respective at least one conductive stripe. 
         [0031]    The insulation means are designed not reduce the conductivity of the respective the at least one conductive stripe. The insulation means are further designed not reduce the elasticity of the respective the at least one conductive stripe. 
         [0032]    Typically, the at least one conductive stripe is at least partially loose inside the respective insulation means. 
         [0033]    The at least one conductive stripe is made of yarns selected form a group of yarns including manmade yarns, synthetic yarns and metallic yarns, or a combination thereof. 
         [0034]    The second end of the at least one conductive stripe may be securely attached to a connector, such as, with no limitations, a HDMI connector. Alternatively, the second end of the second end of the at least one conductive stripe is securely attached to a docking station. 
         [0035]    The garment may include a zipper, wherein said zipper is situated between the at least one textile electrode and a docking station, wherein the at least one conductive stripe passes through the continuous section of the garment, without crossing the zipper, and wherein the second end of said respective at least one conductive stripe or knitted line-trace is securely attached to the docking station. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only and thus not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  (prior art) depicts an open smart garment, having multiple textile electrodes integrally knitted therein, wherein the smart garment is configured to receive a processing unit. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2 a    (prior art) is a schematic illustration of an exemplary garment, having a tubular form, wherein textile electrodes are knitted therein. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2 b    (prior art) depicts a front view of an exemplary garment, wherein the textile electrodes are designed to measure a 15-lead ECG signal. 
           [0040]      FIG. 3 a    depicts segments of a number of conductive stripes, according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the conductive stripes are covered by an insulating tube, showing an open end of the conductive stripes. 
           [0041]      FIG. 3 b    depicts segments of a number of conductive stripes, as in  FIG. 3 a   , showing the other end of the conductive stripes, which, in the shown example, are connected to an HDMI connector. 
           [0042]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example smart garment, having multiple textile electrodes integrally knitted therein, wherein the conductive stripes are configured to transfer the sensed electrical signals from the textile electrodes to a processing unit configured to collect the sensed data, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example method of securely connecting a conductive stripe to a respective textile electrode, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    illustrate example smart garments, having multiple textile electrodes connected to conductive stripes, wherein insulating sleeves are used to insulate the conductive stripes from being electrically shortened by an adjacent conductive stripe and/or the user&#39;s skin, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIGS. 6 c  and 6 d    depict another example garment, according to the methods shown in  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   .  FIG. 6 c   , illustrating the internal side of garment the garment, having multiple textile electrodes connected to respective conductive stripes. 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example smart garment, having multiple textile electrodes connected to conductive stripes, wherein a lining is used to insulate the conductive stripes from being electrically shortened by the user&#39;s skin, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary garment having a tubular form and being an undershirt having a zipper in the front side, wherein textile electrodes are knitted therein. 
           [0048]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration the exemplary garment shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein the zipper is unzipped and the garment in a spread, unfolded form. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0049]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided, so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0050]    An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. 
         [0051]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “another embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. 
         [0052]    Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. 
         [0053]    It should be noted that orientation related descriptions such as “bottom”, “up”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lower”, “top” and the like, assumes that the is worn by a person being in a standing position. 
         [0054]    Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. 
         [0055]    A principle intention of the present invention is to connect textile electrodes to a signal receiving unit by an elastic and loose conductive stripe, such that the conductive stripe does not apply pulling forces or applies minimal pulling forces on the textile electrode securely connected thereto. Thereby, during motion, the textile electrode remains stably in position with respect to the skin of the user, while the signals, such as ECG signals, transfer to a receiving unit such as a docking station. 
         [0056]      FIG. 3 a    depicts segments of a number of conductive stripes  100  that are covered by an insulating tube  102 , showing an open end of conductive stripes  100 .  FIG. 3 b    depicts segments of a number of conductive stripes  100 , showing the other end of conductive stripes  100 , which in the shown example, with no limitation, are connected to an HDMI connector  80 . Insulating tube  102  is elastic and does not limit the elasticity of conductive stripe  100 . 
         [0057]    Conductive stripes  100  can be made by knitting, weaving, braiding, or any other textile method which can combine both conductivity and elasticity. The good conductivity of conductive stripes  100  should prevail when using any type of basic fabric yarns to make the smart garment (such as manmade yarns, synthetic yarns, metallic yarns, etc.). 
         [0058]    Conductive stripes  100  must be insulated to prevent electrical shorting among the stripes, while wearing and moving and to prevent conductive stripes  100  from being electrically shortened by the user&#39;s skin, by neighboring conductive stripes  100  or neighboring textile electrode  50 . 
         [0059]    The insulation can be done by knitting, weaving, braiding, and covering, using any non-conductive textile material, natural or synthetic yarns. 
         [0060]    The insulation should not reduce the conductivity and the elasticity properties of conductive stripes  100 . 
         [0061]    Conductive stripes  100  are positioned in a preconfigured configuration along the shirt to facilitate the stripes to stretch while wearing. 
         [0062]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the insulation of conductive stripes  100  is done after the braiding process, using Spandex yarn covered with Nylon yarn. 
         [0063]    In one embodiment of the present invention, conductive stripes  100  are made of braided conductive yarns (for example, with no limitations, conductive yarns that are manufactured by XSTATIC) together with spandex yarns, in order to reach the right level of elasticity. However, conductive stripes  100  may be made using any other conductive materials such as stainless steel yarns, cooper yarns and any other combination of conductive yarns), provided that the of conductive stripes  100  is similar to the local elasticity of the smart garment. 
         [0064]    The basic yarns to knit the smart garment and the type of Spandex yarn used should be in line with the machine gauge and type of fabric requested. 
         [0065]    The quantity of conductive yarn ends (threads), elastic yarn ends, and the thickness (Den or Dtex) of the yarns in the braided stripe are determined by the level of conductivity and elasticity required for a particular smart garment. 
         [0066]    Reference is made to the drawings.  FIG. 4  illustrates an example smart garment  22 , having multiple textile electrodes  50  integrally knitted therein, wherein conductive stripes  100  are securely connected to respective textile electrodes  50 , according to some embodiments of the present invention, facilitating the transfer of the sensed electrical signals from textile electrodes  50  to a target receiving unit such as a processing unit or a docking station  72 .  FIG. 5  illustrates an example method of securely connecting a conductive stripe  100  to a respective textile electrode  50 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0067]    Smart garment  22 , as shown by way of example only, with no limitations, as a knitted ECG shirt having  13  knitted electrodes (to all shown) at preconfigured locations on the shirt. Each of the knitted electrodes detects an ECG signal that is transferred to the receiving unit. 
         [0068]    Each elastic conductive stripe  100  of smart garment  22  is attached to smart garment  22  at least three at points: securely attached to textile electrode  50 , securely attached or passed through individual loops formed by a respective insulating adhered stripe  110 , generally at middle area of smart garment  22 , and securely connected to the receiving unit the a respective location, being, in the example shown in  FIG. 2 , a respective snap  74  of docking station  72 . 
         [0069]    Elastic conductive stripes  100  are attached to smart garment  22  leaving enough free length hanging loosely between points to allow the garment fabric to stretch during wear without pulling the respective textile electrode  50 . 
         [0070]    The mechanical attachment of elastic conductive stripe  100  to textile electrode  50  must ensure the smooth and efficient transfer of the clinical level ECG signal from the textile electrode  50  to the respective conductive stripe  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , conductive stripe  100  is sawn ( 140 ) to the respective textile electrode  50  at lingula  150 . Conductive stripe  100  may also be attached to the respective textile electrode  50  by lamination (adhesion) or by heat press. The attachment means does not reduce the conductivity of either the textile electrode  50  or the respective conductive stripe  100 . 
         [0071]    It should be noted that conductive stripes  100  may be attached to the shirt at the inner or the outer sides of smart garment  22 . 
         [0072]    In some other embodiments of the present invention, each individual insulated conductive stripe  100  is inserted into a respective elastic sleeve which is securely attached to the fabric of the smart garment, for example by lamination. Reference is made to  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , depicting example methods of securely connecting a conductive stripe  100  to a respective textile electrode  50 , according to other embodiments shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6 b   , illustrates an example smart garments  26  and  27  (which garment  27  includes a zipper), having multiple textile electrodes  50  connected to conductive stripes  100 , wherein insulating sleeves  170  are used to insulate conductive stripes  100  from being electrically shortened by an adjacent conductive stripe and/or the user&#39;s skin. 
         [0073]    All conductive stripes  100  are inserted into respective sleeves  170 , wherein one end of the elastic conductive stripe  100  is securely connected, for example by sewing, to a textile electrodes  50  and the other end of conductive stripe  100  is securely connected to a receiving unit, such as a docking station  72 . 
         [0074]    The usage of a laminated sleeve  170  for each of the conductive stripes  100 , eliminates the usage of lining  160  to cover all conductive stripes  100 , and keeps each conductive stripe  100  in a preconfigured path along the fabric of the smart garment ( 26  and  27 ). 
         [0075]      FIGS. 6 c  and 6 d    depict another example garment  28 , according to the methods shown in  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   .  FIG. 6 c   , illustrates the internal side (i.e., the skin side) of garment  28  (which garment  28  is a ladies garment that includes a zipper), having multiple textile electrodes  50  connected to respective conductive stripes  100 , wherein insulating sleeves  170  are used to insulate conductive stripes  100  from being electrically shortened by an adjacent conductive stripe and/or the user&#39;s skin  FIG. 6 d    illustrates the external side of garment  28  showing the protrusions  100 ′ formed by the sawn-in (on the internal side of garment  28 ) conductive stripes  100 . 
         [0076]    Reference is now also made to  FIG. 7 , showing an example smart garment  24 , having multiple textile electrodes  50  connected to conductive stripes  100 , wherein a lining  160  at the inner side of smart garment  24 , wherein lining  160  is used to insulate conductive stripes  100  from being electrically shortened by the user&#39;s skin, according to some embodiments of the present invention Lining  160  facilitates each conductive stripe  100  to reach the right location  74  (see  FIG. 4 ) at docking station  72 . 
         [0077]    Reference in now made to  FIG. 8 , a schematic illustration of an exemplary garment  220  having a tubular form, the garment being an undershirt having a zipper  290  in the front side, wherein textile electrodes  50  are knitted therein and are individually operatively connected to processing unit  70 . However, some electrodes, such as textile electrodes  50 R, may require crossing zipper  290 . To overcome the problem conductive stripes  100  or line-traces (not shown) are knitted into or attached to smart garment  220  in a path that is traced around, via the back side of the garment, such as to bypass zipper  290 .  FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary garment  220 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein zipper  290  is unzipped and the garment is in a spread, unfolded form. 
         [0078]    The bypassing technique is also valid to any location of a generally vertical zipper, whereas conductive stripes  100  or knitted line-traces (not shown) are knitted into or attached to smart garment  220  in a path that is set to continuously pass through the continuous section of the garment between the  290 L and  290 R parts of zipper  290 . 
         [0079]    The invention being thus described in terms of embodiments and examples, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.