Abstract:
A three-dimensional ( 3 D) wearable electrode set for a human body is provided. The  3 D wearable electrode set comprises an integrative first ring electrode and an integrative second ring electrode. The integrative first ring electrode has a conductive layer and a ring basis, and the integrative second ring electrode also has a conductive layer and a ring basis. The conductive layers of the integrative first and second ring electrodes are adopted to cover around the first and second portions of the human body, respectively. The conductive layers are formed with conductive material. The ring bases are formed with insulating fabric.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention provides a three-dimensional (3D) wearable electrode set. More specifically, the present invention provides a three-dimensional wearable electrode set without electric adhesive patches. 
         [0004]    2. Descriptions of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In medical domain, it is important to keep tracking patients&#39; physiological statuses, such as myoelectricity status or cardiac reflex status. In general, the myoelectricity status is sensed according to electromyography (EMG) signals, and the cardiac reflex status is sensed according to electrocardiograph (ECG) signals. 
         [0006]    Typically, the EMG signals or ECG signals are able to be measured via a plurality of electric adhesive patches adhered on a human body. More specifically, these electric adhesive patches are adhered on different portions of the human body to sense the EMG signals or ECG signals, and are electrically connected to a monitor to analyze the signals for displaying. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, to be more convenient, the industry integrates these electric adhesive patches with a garment, such as a T-shirt. In other words, these electric adhesive patches are adhered on the garment and in close contact with the skin of the human body, so that for sportsmen, they can be notified whether the exercises is effective or not by checking the ECG signals while they are taking exercises. 
         [0008]    However, the electric adhesive patches will lose their adhesive and cause folder over in such a manner that the physiological signals can not be measured or are not reliable. In fact, there is a high possibility for sportsmen that the electric adhesive patches fall off from the garment during their exercises. 
         [0009]    In view of this, it is important to provide wearable electrodes that are convenient for use and are not requiring the electric adhesive patches. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The primary objective of this invention is to provide a 3D wearable electrode set for a human body, which comprises an integrative first ring electrode and an integrative second ring electrode. The integrative first ring electrode which has a first conductive layer and a first ring basis is adopted to cover around a first portion of the human body. The integrative second ring electrode which has a second conductive layer and a second ring basis is adopted to cover around a second portion of the human body. The first and second conductive layers are formed with conductive material, and the first and second ring bases are formed with insulating fabric. The first conductive layer is attached to the first ring basis, and the second conductive layer is attached to the second ring basis. The first conductive layer is electrically connected to a first terminal of a processor via a first conductive thread, and the second conductive layer is electrically connected to a second terminal of the processor via a second conductive thread. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, the 3D wearable electrode set comprising the integrative first and second ring electrodes do not require electric adhesive patches to sense the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of a human body, and are able to cover around different portions of the human body which may give a better and more accurate results than the electric adhesive patches of the prior art. 
         [0012]    The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are schematic views illustrating the integrative first and second ring electrodes of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view illustrating conductive fabric of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic view illustrating insulating fabric of the preferred embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic views illustrating the integrative first and second ring electrodes of another preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    In the following description, this invention will be explained with reference to embodiments thereof. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit this invention to any specific environment, applications or implementations described in these embodiments. Therefore, description of these embodiments is only for purposes of illustration rather than to limit the present invention. It should be appreciated that in the following embodiments and the attached drawings, the elements not related directly to this invention are omitted from depiction. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a garment  1  incorporated with a 3D wearable electrode set of the present invention. The 3D wearable electrode set comprises an integrative first ring electrode  11  and an integrative second ring electrode  12 . The integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  may be sewed on the two sleeves of the garment  1 . In other embodiments, the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  may form with the garment  1  as a piece rather than an addition of the garment  1 . The integrative first ring electrode  11  is electrically connected to a first terminal  15   a  of a processor  15  via a first conductive thread  13 , and the integrative second ring electrode  12  is electrically connected to a second terminal  15   b  of the processor  15  via a second conductive thread  14 . In this preferred embodiment, the first conductive thread  13  and the second conductive thread  14  are yarns blended with the conductive fibers and the insulating fibers. It should be noted that the first conductive thread  13  and the second conductive thread  14  are made by pure conductive fibers, conductive wires, or conductive inks, the present invention has no intention to limit the material of the first conductive thread  13  and the second conductive thread  14  as long as their material are conductive. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are schematic views of the integrative first ring electrode  11  or the integrative second ring electrode  12  in accordance with the garment  1  of the preferred embodiment. More specifically,  FIG. 2A  is a schematic views enlarging the integrative first ring electrode  11  or the integrative second ring electrode  12 ,  FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of different layers of the integrative first ring electrode  11  or the integrative second ring electrode  12 , and  FIG. 2C  is a cross sectional view of the integrative first ring electrode  11  or the integrative second ring electrode  12  in accordance with X-X′. 
         [0021]    The integrative first ring electrode  11  has a first conductive layer  11   a  and a first ring basis  11   b,  wherein the first conductive layer  11   a  is attached to the first ring basis  11   b,  and the first conductive layer  11   a  is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the first ring basis  11   b  is formed with insulating fabric. 
         [0022]    Similarly, the integrative second ring electrode  12  has the same structure as the integrative first ring electrode  11 . In other words, the integrative second ring electrode  12  has a second conductive layer  12   a  and a second ring basis  12   b,  wherein the second conductive layer  12   a  is attached to the second ring basis  12   b,  and the second conductive layer  12   a  is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the second ring basis  12   b  is formed with insulating fabric. 
         [0023]    In this preferred embodiment, the first conductive layer  11   a  has a ring structure, and a surface area of that is equal to a surface area of the first ring basis  11   b.  The second conductive layer  12   a  also has the ring structure, and a surface area of that is equal to a surface area of the second ring basis  12   b.    
         [0024]    In  FIG. 2C , the first conductive layer  11   a  and the first ring basis  11   b  on the right side of  FIG. 2C  are refer to a right portion of the integrative first ring electrode  11  in  FIG. 2A . Similarly, the second conductive layer  12   a  and the second ring basis  12   b  on the right side of  FIG. 2C  are refer to a right portion of the integrative second ring electrode  12  in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0025]    On the other hand, the first conductive layer  11   a  and the first ring basis  11   b  on the left side of  FIG. 2C  are refer to a left portion of the integrative second ring electrode  12  in  FIG. 2A , and the second conductive layer  12   a  and the second ring basis  12   b  on the left side of  FIG. 2C  are refer to a left portion of the integrative second ring electrode  12  in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a  are woven with conductive fibers  31  and insulating fibers  32  in such a manner as shown in  FIG. 3A , wherein material of the conductive fibers  31  is metal fibers with electric conductively, such as stainless steel. In other embodiments, the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a  may be formed with fabric applied conductive ink or conductive paint. 
         [0027]    On the other hand, the first ring basis  11   b  and the second ring basis  12   b  are woven with a plurality of insulating fibers  32  in such a manner as shown in  FIG. 3B , wherein material of the insulating fibers  31  is conventional fibers without electric conductively, such as cotton fibers. It should be noted that the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a  can be made by conductive inks, the present invention has no intention to limit the material of the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a  as long as their material are conductive. 
         [0028]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1˜2C , the 3D wearable electrode set is for a human body. The integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  are made by elastic material, so that the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  are able to slight tight round a first portion (e.g. the right elbow) and a second portion (e.g. a left elbow) of the human body respectively. 
         [0029]    Further speaking, the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a  contact with the skin of the first potion and the second portion of the human body and are electrically connected to the first terminal  15   a  and the second terminal  15   b  of the processor  15  via the first conductive thread  13  and the second conductive thread  14  respectively. Therefore, the human body may receive some electric stimulation from the processor  15  via the first conductive layer  11   a  and the second conductive layer  12   a.    
         [0030]    For example, the 3D wearable electrode set may be for diathermy, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The processor  15  may generate a first simulation current  16  and a second simulation current  17 . The first simulation current  16  is transmitted to the first conductive layer  11   a  of the integrative first ring electrode  11  via the first conductive thread  13 , and the second simulation current  17  is transmitted to the second conductive layer  12   a  of the integrative second ring electrode  12  via the second conductive thread  14 . According to the first simulation current  16  and the second simulation current  17  from the processor  15 , the diathermy can be easily achieved by the processor  15 , the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12 . 
         [0031]    On the other hand, if the 3D wearable electrode set is for monitoring the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of the human body, the first conductive layer  11   a  may receive a first electrical impulse  18  (e.g. one of the EMG signals or one of the ECG signals) generated from the first portion of the human body, and then the first electrical impulse  18  is transmitted to the first terminal  15   a  of the processor  15  via the first conductive thread  13 . Similarly, the second conductive layer  12   a  may receive a second electrical impulse  19  (e.g. another EMG signal or another ECG signal) generated from the second portion of the human body, and then the second electrical impulse  19  is transmitted to the second terminal  15   b  of the processor  15  via the second conductive thread  14 . 
         [0032]    After receiving the first electrical impulse  18  and the second electrical impulse  19 , the processor  15  analyzes the impulses  18 ,  19  to retrieve the electromyogram or the electrocardiogram of the human body. According to the first electrical impulse  18  and the second electrical impulse  19  from the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12 , monitoring of the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of the human body can be easily achieved by the processor  15 , the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12 . In other embodiments, the integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  may additionally sense heart beat pulse. 
         [0033]    It should be noted that even though the 3D wearable electrode set are incorporated with garment  1  in this preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the 3D wearable electrode set may incorporated with a long sleeve sweater, or a sport pant for allow to cover around arms, feet, thigh, belly or even neck of the body. Furthermore, to obtain a better and more accurate the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status, the 3D wearable electrode set must comprises at lest two integrative ring electrodes to cover around different portions of the human body, people skilled in this art may rapidly add more integrative ring electrodes since the structures of integrative ring electrodes are basically the same. For the cardiac reflex status, it is even desired to place the integrative ring electrodes across the heart, for example, the integrative ring electrodes are placed at right elbow and left ankle. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic views of an integrative first ring electrode  41  or an integrative second ring electrode  42  of another preferred embodiment. More specifically,  FIG. 4A  is a schematic view enlarging the integrative first ring electrode  41  or the integrative second ring electrode  42 , and  FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of different layers of the integrative first ring electrode  41  or the integrative second ring electrode  42 . The integrative first ring electrode  41  or the integrative second ring electrode  42  may combined with the garment  1  of the prior preferred embodiment, the details are described as above and therefore will not be mentioned here. 
         [0035]    The integrative first ring electrode  41  has a first conductive layer  41   a  and a first ring basis  41   b,  wherein a surface area of the first conductive layer  41   a  is less than a surface area of the first ring basis  41   b,  and the first conductive layer  41   a  is attached to a part of the first ring basis  41   b.  Preferably, the surface area of the first conductive layer  41   a  holds a ratio between 20% and 80% of the surface area of the first ring basis  41   b.  The first conductive layer  41   a  is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the first ring basis  41   b  is formed with insulating fabric. 
         [0036]    Similarly, the integrative second ring electrode  42  has the same structure as the integrative first ring electrode  41 . In other words, the integrative second ring electrode  42  has a second conductive layer  42   a  and a second ring basis  42   b.  A surface area of the second conductive layer  42   a  is less than a surface area of the second ring basis  42   b,  and the second conductive layer  42   a  is attached to a part of the second ring basis  42   b.  Preferably, a surface area of the second conductive layer  42   a  holds a ratio between 20% and 80% of a surface area of the second ring basis  42   b.  The second conductive layer  42   a  is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the second ring basis  42   b  is formed with insulating fabric. 
         [0037]    Because the surface area of the first conductive layer  41   a/ the second conductive layer  42   a  is less than the surface area of the first ring basis  41   b/ the second ring basis  42   b,  so that a conductive area of the integrative first ring electrode  41  or the integrative second ring electrode  42  are discontinuous as shown in  FIG. 4A , which is different from integrative first ring electrode  11  and the integrative second ring electrode  12  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0038]    The first conductive layer  41   a  and the second conductive layer  42   a  are woven with conductive fibers  31  and insulating fibers  32  in such a manner as shown in  FIG. 3A , wherein material of the conductive fibers  31  is metal fibers with electric conductively, such as stainless steel. The first ring basis  41   b  and the second ring basis  42   b  are woven with a plurality of insulating fibers  32  in such a manner as shown in  FIG. 3B , wherein material of the insulating fibers  31  is conventional fibers without electric conductively, such as cotton fibers. 
         [0039]    Similarly, the first conductive layer  41   a  and the second conductive layer  42   a  may contact with the skin of the first potion and the second portion of the human body and are electrically connected to the first terminal (not shown) and the second terminal (not shown) of the processor (not shown) via the first conductive thread (not shown) and the second conductive thread (not shown) respectively. Therefore, the human body may receive some electric stimulation from the processor via the first conductive layers and the second conductive layers. The details for TENS and monitoring the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of the human body applications are already described in the previous preferred embodiment and therefore will not be mentioned here. 
         [0040]    Accordingly, the 3D wearable electrode set which comprises the integrative first ring electrode and the integrative first ring electrode does not require electric adhesive patches, and is able to cover around different portions of the human body which may give a better and more accurate results than the electric adhesive patches of the prior art. Hence, the problem of the prior art is overcome. 
         [0041]    The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.