Patent Description:
It is known to use textile electrodes for measuring physiological parameters of the human body. The use of textile electrodes, however, is constrained by their high impedance when their conducting material is dry. In addition, electrodes constructed from conductive threads woven or knitted together and placed against bare skin obtain relatively poor physiological signal quality (e.g., an electrocardiographic signal which is representative of the heart activity of a user) as compared to traditional electrodes which often use a highly conductive fluid or gel to place the electrode or conductive element in electrical contact with the user's skin. The gel or fluid reduces the impedance in contact with the electrode so that very small changes of electrical signals such as those measured by electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) can be measured.

Prior art textile electrodes known by the inventors have attempted to improve their signal quality by ensuring the presence of moisture between the electrodes and the skin to allow ionic conduction between the two interfaces and thus, obtain a sufficient conductivity to detect signals generated by the human body. Typical system either provide a source of fluid to the electrode that maintains a moisture level between the electrode and the user's skin or rely on sweat generated by the user using physical activity to maintain a moisture level. The latter approach is highly dependent on the user's sweat output and level of physical activity, and severely limits the usefulness of the textile electrode. The former has to contend with the high level of fluid evaporation and absorption that can make the performance of the electrode unpredictable as the moisture level fluctuates depending on the user activity and environment.

In response, the prior art has taken one of two common approaches to maintain the moisture level in a textile electrode. The first adds a separate fluid reservoir and a system for moving fluid from the reservoir to the electrode. The second places a wetted material behind the electrode and separates the two by a semi-permeable membrane that allows moisture to flow from the wetted material to the electrode.

Both approaches, however, have serious drawbacks. Reservoir systems, for example, add a bulky fluid container that must be placed somewhere on the user, and can require an active transport mechanism in order to move fluid to the electrode. Systems with semi-permeable barriers are difficult to rewet, dry, and clean, which makes their wetted material prone to bacteria growth and breakdown.

Systems for maintaining moisture in textile electrodes according to the state of the art are for instance described in <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention provides a system for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode according to claim <NUM>.

Some embodiments also include an electrical contact point on the textile electrode that is connecting one or more conductive wires from outside the sealing layer to the textile electrode. In some instances, an inner sealing layer is disposed around the electrical contact to separate the conductive wires and the portion of the textile electrode in contact with the conductive wires from moisture of the skincore material and the user's skin. The skincore material inside the sealing layer is configured to receive and retain moisture from the user's skin through the textile electrode, as well as from a pre-wetting application of a fluid, such as water or saltwater, to the exposed user-facing side of the textile electrode.

In operation, some embodiments of the present system control the humidity or moisture level present in a textile electrode by providing a reservoir material directly against the electrode that, due to the material properties of the reservoir material, is able to maintain a high level of moisture in the textile electrode while the textile electrode and outer sealing layer is positioned against the user's skin. The initial wetting of the reservoir material can, in some instances, provide enough moisture to allow the textile electrode to function at a desired level for many hours, depending on the size and amount of fluid initially added to the reservoir material. The hydrophobic properties of the exterior of the reservoir material prevent excess evaporation due to exposed fluid, and the hydrophilic properties of the interior of the reservoir material allow substantial fluid retention and controlled evaporation of that fluid to the textile electrode over a long period of time. Additionally, the hydrophilic properties of the reservoir material enable the reservoir to readily absorb moisture from sweat excreted from the user's skin adjacent to the textile electrode. The outer sealing layer's contact with the user's skin surrounding the textile electrode helps to retain this excreted moisture inside the outer sealing layer where it can humidify the textile electrode and excess moisture can be stored by the reservoir material for later evaporation when the textile electrode's moisture level drops below that of the reservoir material.

In operation, by controlling the humidity level of the textile electrode, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for maintaining optimum electrical signals reception by the textile electrode while allowing to be worn for long periods; thereby achieving quality measurements. Some embodiments of the present disclosure also provide for a system designed to operate in the normal life cycle of a garment, including reuse and multiple washes. Because the textile electrode and reservoir material are exposed to the interior side (i.e., user-facing side) of the garment, washing and cleaning of the reservoir material is not inhibited by the outer sealing layer, which is the same mechanism by which the reservoir material can be pre-wetted before use by simply applying a fluid to the inner side of the textile electrode.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a system designed to be simple to incorporate into a garment and operate in the normal life cycle of a measure of the person wearing the garment. During this cycle, the body contact provides for retention of moisture in the reservoir material, as well as a resupply of moisture from the user's sweat. Additionally, heat from the user's skin helps to heat the reservoir material, which helps release moisture from the reservoir material. Thus, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a passive system for maintaining the moisture content of a textile electrode during use of the garment. Additionally, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a system that can be integrated into a garment with little to no noticeable change in the garment's feel or function beyond the present of moisture in the regions of the garment with textile electrodes. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for flexible materials that can be integrated into a garment to so as to not inhibit contact between the inner side of the textile electrode and the user's skin, which improves the quality and reliability of the electrical signal received by the textile electrode.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode. The system can include a textile layer having a textile electrode region knitted therein and an insulated region adjacent to the textile electrode region, a reservoir material positioned above the outer side of the textile electrode region, and an outer sealing layer positioned above the reservoir material, the outer sealing layer extending over and around the reservoir material and the textile electrode region. The textile electrode region and insulated region together can define a continuous textile section. The textile layer can have an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the inner side of the textile electrode region being exposed and configured to contact against a user's skin. The textile electrode region can be knitted from an electrically conductive yarn having an exposed electrically conductive surface and the insulated region can be knitted from an electrically insulated or electrically inert yarn. The outer sealing layer can extend through a thickness of the textile layer to the inner side of the textile layer. In some embodiments, the outer sealing layer defines a moistures barrier around the textile electrode region and the reservoir material and through the thickness of the textile layer around the textile electrode.

The system can include an electrical contact between a conductive wire received through the outer sealing layer and the textile electrode. In some embodiments, the system includes an inner sealing layer surrounding the electrical contact.

The exposed electrically conductive surface of the electrically conductive yarn can include a silver coating. The outer sealing layer can include an exterior film layer above the reservoir material and the textile electrode region and an adhesive material securing the exterior film to the textile layer, with the adhesive material extending through the thickness of the textile layer to the inner side of the textile layer.

In some embodiments, the insulated region includes a conductive trace region knitted therein, the conductive trace region extending from a border of the textile electrode and through the outer sealing layer. The conductive trace region can be knitted from a hybrid yarn containing a non-conductive yarn twisted with a conductive wire, the conductive wire having an exterior coating with an insulating material, and the textile electrode region can be electrically connected to a conductive wire from the conductive trace region that the exterior coating removed. In some embodiments, the insulated region includes an electrical inert region, with the conductive trace region extending through the electrically inert region and the electrical inert region is knitted from an electrically inert yarn. The textile layer having the textile electrode can be a first layer, with the system further includes a second layer of the hybrid yarn knitted out of the conductive trace region and over a portion of the electrode region to form a two-layer section in the textile electrode region, where the exterior coating of the conductive wire of a portion of the conductive trace region in the two layer section is removed to expose a portion of the conductive wire and the exposed portion of the conductive wire is electrically connected with the electrode region via a conductive material. In some embodiments, the non-conductive yarn is removed where the exposed portion of the conductive wire is electrically connected with the electrode region and an inner sealing layer can surround the exposed portion of the conductive wire.

The reservoir material can include a skincore fiber having a hydrophilic or hygroscopic cortex and a hydrophobic exterior. The reservoir material can be natural wool and can be felted. The textile layer includes a single knitted layer, which can be knitting using intarsia knitting. In some embodiments, the textile layer defines a garment. In some embodiments, the electrode region is configured to pick up electrical signals from the user's body. In some embodiments, the insulated region surrounds the textile electrode region.

Other implementations, features, and advantages of the subject matter included herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

This disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Certain examples will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described may be combined.

Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a textile formed as a wearable garment with integrated electrodes and conductive traces connecting the electrodes to a controller unit configured in accordance with illustrative embodiments. Specifically, <FIG> schematically shows a textile garment <NUM> with integrated textile electrodes <NUM>, and conductive traces <NUM> connecting the textile electrodes <NUM> to an electrical device <NUM>. The garment <NUM> is constructed as a single textile layer to be worn directly against the skin. The garment <NUM> is knitted from a regular electrically inert material <NUM> (e.g., an insulator material, such as cotton, wool, or polyester) with the textile electrodes <NUM> knitted directly into the garment <NUM>, without adding additional textile layers at the location of the textile electrodes <NUM>. The conductive traces <NUM> are knitted with a hybrid yarn, discussed in more detail below, that is constructed from a strong and inelastic nonconductive yarn twisted with one or more conductive wires, with the conductive wires being coated with an insulating material. The hybrid yarn enables the conductive traces <NUM> to transmit power or electrical signals through the conductive wires without interference due to the insulating coating on the conductive wires. The textile electrodes <NUM> have an inner surface that is therefore positioned against the user's skin when the garment <NUM> is worn. The textile electrodes <NUM> are knitted from a conductive yarn, such as a silver coated polyester, that enables the textile electrodes <NUM> to conduct electrical signals across the textile electrode <NUM>. The textile electrodes <NUM> are connected to the electrical device <NUM> via conductive traces <NUM> that are also knitted directly into the garment <NUM> without adding additional layers to the garment. In some embodiments, the garment <NUM> defines a single-layer knitted textile layer across the inert material <NUM>, the textile electrodes <NUM>, and the conductive traces <NUM>. In some embodiments, the textile electrodes <NUM> are knitted as electrical connection regions for a sensor or electronic device affixed to the garment <NUM>.

The textile electrodes <NUM> can be arranged to, for example, pick up or sense electrical signals from the user's body, such as those related to heart rate and heart function (e.g., the signals for use in forming an electrocardiogram EKG). In some embodiments, the garment <NUM> includes four textile electrodes <NUM>, positioned with respect to the user's body in order to provide a high-quality EKG signal. The conductive traces <NUM> connect the textile electrodes <NUM> to the electrical device <NUM> via the conductive wires integrated into the hybrid yarn from which the conductive traces <NUM> are knitted. The conductive wire of the hybrid yarn can be coated with an insulating polymer, which is able to be removed at the points of contact with the textile electrodes <NUM> and the electrical device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the hybrid yarn is constructed from a highly inelastic material, such as meta-aramid or para-aramid (e.g., Kevlar® or Twaron(R)) or a material with similar material properties to protect the integrated conductive wires from damage or being severed during the knitting process and being damaged or severed during normal wear of the garment <NUM>, such as Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethene (UHMWPE), Polybenzimidazole (PBI), Polyphenylene Benzobisoxazole (PBO), High Strength Polyester, Liquid-Crystal Polymer (LCP), or spider silk. In some embodiments the hybrid yarn is made with a fire retardant and self-extinguishing material, such as para-aramid or material with similar properties according to the ASTM D6413 / D6413M Standard Vertical Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles to enable the insulating layer and nonconductive yarn to be removed using ablation. The conductive wire can be, for example copper wire or copper-clad stainless-steel sire. Additionally, the textile electrodes <NUM> may be knitted or otherwise constructed with a conductive wire, such as silver or copper wire or a non conductive yarn (e.g., nylon, polyester, cotton, or wool) coated with a conductive material such as silver or copper. In some embodiments, the standard material <NUM>, textile electrodes <NUM>, and conductive traces <NUM> are knitted together into a single-layer garment <NUM> without seams.

<FIG> is a photograph of an illustrative embodiment of the textile of garment <NUM> <FIG> on a user. <FIG> shows patches <NUM>' over the textile electrodes <NUM> that are arranged to maintain a moisture level in the textile electrode <NUM>. These patches <NUM>' can also be used to impart stability to the textile electrode on body when the garment is worn and to reduce electrical static noise from the outer surface of the textile electrode <NUM>.

<FIG> is a photograph of a strand of a hybrid yarn <NUM> configured in accordance with illustrative embodiments. To show its relative size, the hybrid yarn <NUM> is compared with a US penny and a strand of human hair. Preferably, the hybrid yarn <NUM> is made from a nonconductive yarn <NUM> and a conductive wire <NUM> twisted together. In some instances, the nonconductive yarn <NUM> has minimal elasticity and high strength, and is made from, for example, a meta-aramid or para-aramid material. The nonconductive yarn <NUM> also can be made from filament or staple fibers. The conductive wire <NUM> can be insulated with, for example, a polyurethane coating. In some instances, the hybrid yarn <NUM> can be bonded with a coating (e.g., Nylon) for softer feel and maintain the integrity of the hybrid yarn <NUM>.

In one example, the hybrid yarn <NUM> includes two stands of copper-clad stainless steel or copper with between <NUM> to <NUM> twists per inch around a Kevlar strand. The <NUM> to <NUM> twists per inch construction is for a strand of Kevlar and a <NUM> micron conductive wire (e.g., <NUM> micron thick metal and a <NUM>-<NUM> micron thick coating of polyurethane) that when twisted together suitable to knit a textile at <NUM> gauge. The hybrid yarn in <FIG> is made from two copper clad stainless-steel wires <NUM> twisted with a Kevlar yarn <NUM> at <NUM> twists per inch. In some instances, other nonconductive yarns <NUM> can be used, such as Vectran® or Twaron®, which are also a high strength yarns with low elasticity.

Nonconductive yarns <NUM> made with para aramid or similar materials have many advantages, such as being strong, but relatively light. The specific tensile strength (stretching or pulling strength) of both Kevlar <NUM> and Kevlar <NUM> is over eight times greater than that of steel wire. Unlike most plastics it does not melt: it is reasonably good at withstanding temperatures and decomposes only at about <NUM> (<NUM>°F). Accordingly, the hybrid yarn <NUM> can be laser ablated or burned to remove the nonconductive yarn <NUM> and the coating on the conductive wire <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an example twist pattern of a hybrid yarn <NUM> having a conductive wire <NUM> around a nonconductive yarn <NUM>. In order to knit the conductive traces <NUM> into a single-layer using a flatbed knitting machine the nonconductive yarn <NUM> must protect conductive wire <NUM> from being broken by the stresses put on the hybrid yarn <NUM> by the flatbed knitting machine. According, a hybrid yarn <NUM> was developed that was suitable for flatbed knitting. The hybrid yarn <NUM> is constructed from the nonconductive yarn <NUM> being twisted with the conductive wire <NUM>, where the nonconductive yarn <NUM> is a strong and inelastic yarn that, when exposed to the tensile forces of the flatbed knitting machine, exhibits an elongation of a sufficiently small percentage to prevent breakage of the conductive wire <NUM>. For example, the nonconductive yarn <NUM> may have a tensile strength greater than that of the conductive wire <NUM> as well as an elongation break percentage less than <NUM> or less than about <NUM>. In other embodiments, the nonconductive yarn <NUM> may have a Young's modulus of <NUM> or greater. In practice, because the nonconductive yarn <NUM> and conductive wire <NUM> are twisted together and the nonconductive yarn <NUM> comprises the majority fraction of the overall cross-section of the hybrid yarn <NUM>, the material of nonconductive yarn <NUM> need not simply be less elastic than the metal of conductive wire <NUM> because, as the hybrid yarn <NUM> is exposed to tensile forces, the hybrid yarn <NUM> acts as a single structure and the relative elasticity of the much larger nonconductive yarn <NUM> section is less than the relative elasticity of the much thinner conductive wire <NUM> as the hybrid yarn <NUM> undergoes tension. Accordingly, suitable embodiments of hybrid yarn <NUM> are constructed from very strong and inelastic fibers, such as meta-aramids and para-aramids, that are both thin and flexible enough to be knitted on a flatbed machine, but also strong and inelastic enough at those thin diameters to be twisted with a substantially thinner metal wire (e.g., a conductive wire <NUM> thin enough to maintain the thin and flexible properties of the overall hybrid yarn <NUM> that enable it to be both machine knittable and not affect the worn feeling of a garment) and prevent the substantially thinner metal wire from breaking.

<FIG> is a photograph of an embodiment of a knitted textile having an integrated electrode region <NUM> and a conductive trace region <NUM> with a loose loop <NUM> of hybrid yarn <NUM> from the conductive trace region <NUM> extending across the face of the textile electrode region. The loop <NUM> can be cut into a tail in order to facilitate connection between the textile electrode region <NUM> and the conductive trace region <NUM> of which the loop or tail is an extension of the same hybrid yarn <NUM>. The loose loop <NUM> can be used to electrically connect the conductive trace region <NUM> to the textile electrode region <NUM> by removing the insulating layer (and, in some embodiments, the nonconductive yarn) from the loop <NUM> and connecting the now-bare conductive wire <NUM> of the loop <NUM> to the conductive yarn <NUM> of the textile electrode region <NUM>. Leaving this loop <NUM> loose allows the loop <NUM> to be ablated, exposing the bare conductive wire <NUM>, without destroying the textile <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, the loose loop <NUM> increases the surface area of the conductive wire <NUM> that is able to be connected to the electrode, as well as providing a free strand to more easily remove the insulating coating and nonconductive yarn.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a single-layer <NUM> of a continuous textile section <NUM> knitted to have a conductive trace region <NUM> passing through an inert region <NUM>, with the conductive trace region <NUM> being electrically connected to a textile electrode region <NUM> of the textile section <NUM> at an interface <NUM> between the two regions. The single <NUM> defines a bottom side <NUM> and a top side <NUM> opposite the bottom side, with each region <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending between the top side <NUM> and the bottom side <NUM>. Additionally, <FIG> shows a seal or patch <NUM>'positioned on the top side <NUM> of the textile electrode region <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of a reservoir system for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode. The electrodes/sensors preferably are stabilized for electrical reasons. Among other benefits, stabilization of the electrode reduces noise, thus providing better data from the textile electrode region <NUM>. Adding an outer film layer overcomes a constraint of a data gathering textile electrode-keeping it damp.

Specifically, data is more effectively captured when the textile electrode is stable and damp. As such, illustrative embodiments add an outer film layer around the textile electrode region <NUM>. For example, the added layer may include a thermoplastic adhesive cover film (or thermoplastic textile laminate) that mitigates evaporation of moisture from the region of the textile electrode region <NUM> through the garment <NUM>. Moreover, adding an additional layer of fabric, between the textile electrode region <NUM> and the film improves sweat absorption. Multiple tests were conducted with a variety of different materials used as the hydrophilic layer, such as non-woven wool batting, dense polyester knit (brand name Axe suede) and superhydrophobic fiber and superhydrophobic yarn (as produced by Technical Absorbents, Grimsby, UK). Framis 'Portofino' laminate (polyester jersey + TPU adhesive) and Framis 'Heavy Dream' (TPU Cover-Film) was used as a stabilization 'patch'. Here it was discovered that hydrophobic/ hydrophilic materials, such as natural wool, are superior when used as the reservoir material. Natural wool absorbs salt water well and does not readily evaporate. Natural wool is also naturally fire resistant and has anti-microbial properties that are consistent with its intended use in this embodiment next to the skin. Further, natural wool washes and dries without deterioration. Other hydrophobic materials, such as those tested, can also be used to form the reservoir but wool has the best characteristics for performance in the garment <NUM>. The wool can be any form including loose fiber, or layers of knitted or woven wool, or felted wool, or non-woven wool batting. While some embodiments are <NUM>% wool, wool blended with other fibers at no less than <NUM>% wool/<NUM>% other fibers can also be used.

<FIG> shows a cross-section of a textile electrode region <NUM> of a garment positioned in-use, against a user's base skin <NUM>, with a reservoir system <NUM> for retaining moisture in the textile electrode region <NUM>. The reservoir system includes an outer film layer <NUM> above a reservoir material <NUM>, which is itself directly above the textile electrode region <NUM>. The electrode can include an electrical contact <NUM> that is separately sealed by an inner film <NUM> from the rest of the textile electrode region <NUM>, reservoir material <NUM>, and the user's skin <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are schematic drawings of the reservoir system <NUM>, which maintains moisture in a textile electrode region <NUM>. These figures also show the connection between the textile electrode region <NUM> and a conductive wire <NUM> of a conducive trace <NUM> made from a hybrid yarn <NUM>. <FIG> shows the outer film layer <NUM>, surrounding the reservoir material <NUM> and the textile electrode region <NUM>, extending through the garment <NUM> (shown here as through the standard material <NUM> on one side and the conductive trace <NUM> on the other) to the inner side of the garment abutted against the user's skin <NUM>. In this manner, the outer layer <NUM> encapsulates the textile electrode region <NUM> and the reservoir material <NUM> with a water-proof barrier against the user's skin <NUM>. Inside the outer layer <NUM>, the water vapor from the reservoir material <NUM> can flow into the textile electrode region <NUM> (shown as arrow <NUM>), and water vapor from the user's skin is able to flow into the electrode (shown as arrow 1359a) and into the reservoir material <NUM> (shown as arrow 1359b). <FIG> also shows that a conductive wire <NUM> from the conductive trace <NUM> extends though the outer film <NUM> and is connected to the conductive material of the textile electrode region <NUM> with an electrical connection <NUM>. In some instances, and as shown, the electrical connection <NUM> is encapsulated by an inner film <NUM> that prevents moisture from the textile electrode region <NUM>, reservoir material <NUM>, or the user's skin <NUM> from reaching the electrical connection <NUM>.

<FIG> is a detail view of the connection between the conductive trace <NUM> and the textile electrode region <NUM>. <FIG> shows that a loop <NUM> of hybrid yarn, including a coated conductive wire <NUM> and a nonconductive yarn <NUM> extending from the conductive trace <NUM>, though the outer film <NUM>. <FIG> also shows uncoated portion <NUM>' of the conductive wire <NUM> extending through the inner film <NUM> to the electrical connection <NUM>. In <FIG>, a portion <NUM> of the inner film <NUM> can extend through the textile electrode region <NUM> in order to completely seal the electrical contact <NUM><NUM> from moisture while still allowing the conductive material of the textile electrode region <NUM> to pass though the portion <NUM> to maintain the electrical connection between the electrical contact <NUM> and the rest of the textile electrode region <NUM>.

<FIG> is a graphic rendering of a knitted textile embodiment having a textile electrode and a conductive trace extending into the textile electrode, showing the location of an electrical connect and a film seal. In <FIG>, a section of the knitted textile garment <NUM> has an integrated textile electrode region <NUM> and a conductive trace <NUM> extending into the region of the integrated textile electrode region <NUM> after the knitting steps are completed. In operation, once the textile, including the conductive trace <NUM> and integrated textile electrode region <NUM> is knitted, the conductive wires <NUM> of the conductive trace <NUM> can be connected to the conductive material of the electrode by, for example, an ablation process, whereby a small section of the textile where the conductive trace <NUM> meets the textile electrode region <NUM> is ablated away, leaving only the uncoated conductive wires <NUM>' behind. With the uncoated conductive wires <NUM>' exposed, an electrical contact <NUM> (e.g., a conductive material) can be added at the location of the exposed wires <NUM>' to electrical connect the exposed wires <NUM>' to the surrounding conductive material of the textile electrode region <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the location of this electrical contact <NUM> as a boxed region <NUM>. With the electrical contact <NUM> created, an inner sealing layer or film <NUM> can be placed around the electrical contact <NUM> and though the surrounding textile <NUM>, <NUM> such that the material of the inner film <NUM> becomes integrated into the fibers of the surrounding textile <NUM>, <NUM> to form a sealed moisture barrier around the electrical contact <NUM>, without interrupting the fibers of the textile electrode region <NUM>, such that the electrical contact <NUM> remains in electrical contact with the textile electrode region <NUM>. With the inner sealing layer <NUM> in player, the reservoir material <NUM> can be placed above the electrode, and the outer sealing layer <NUM> can seal the reservoir material <NUM> and the textile electrode region <NUM> such that only the inner surface of the electrode (i.e., the skin-facing surface) is exposed inside a perimeter of the sealing layer <NUM> extending into the fibers of textile around the textile electrode region <NUM>, such that the moisture retained by the reservoir <NUM> cannot escape through the garment. <FIG> indicates the location <NUM> where the electrical connect <NUM> can be placed, the location <NUM> where the inner layer <NUM> can be placed, and a location <NUM> where an outer layer <NUM> can be integrated with the material of the garment to surround the textile electrode region <NUM> and reservoir material <NUM> after the reservoir material <NUM> is placed on the textile electrode region <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a reservoir system for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode showing the connection between the textile electrode and a conductive wire of a hybrid yarn. In <FIG>, a schematic of an alternate configuration of the reservoir system <NUM> for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode region <NUM> is shown. Among other things, <FIG> shows the connection between the textile electrode region <NUM> and a conductive wire <NUM> of a hybrid yarn <NUM> in a conductive trace <NUM> in the garment <NUM>. The conductive trace <NUM> is connected to the textile electrode region <NUM> where the two knitted materials meet. For example, an ablated region <NUM> of a loop of the conductive trace <NUM> exposes the uncoated conductive wire <NUM>'. The ablated loop is then bundled up and attached to the structure of the knit textile electrode region <NUM>. Here, an electrical contact <NUM> can be placed to improve the connection between the uncoated wire <NUM>' and the textile electrode region <NUM>. In some instances, the electrical contact <NUM> includes a conductive plate or a bead of conductive metal, such a solder or conductive adhesive or uninsulated conductive yarn.

<FIG> is a photograph of an illustrative textile with a textile electrode connected to a conductive trace and covered by a piece of wool. <FIG> shows a section of a garment <NUM> with an integrated textile electrode region <NUM> connected to a conductive trace <NUM> and covered by a piece of reservoir material <NUM> (shown here as a piece of felted natural wool). <FIG> shows the region around the textile electrode region <NUM> and reservoir material <NUM>, as well as a section of the conductive trace <NUM>, to be sealed by the outer film <NUM>. <FIG> also shows the region <NUM> around the two electrical contacts <NUM> to be sealed by an inner film <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a single-layer of a continuous textile section <NUM> knitted using the intarsia technique and having a conductive trace region <NUM> passing through an inert region <NUM> and across a face of an electrode region <NUM>. The conductive trace region <NUM> includes a knitted extension <NUM> that is knitted out of the single layer of the continuous textile section to form a second layer above the textile electrode region <NUM>. This knitted extensions <NUM> of the conductive trace region <NUM> can be electrically connected with the textile electrode region <NUM> as discussed in <FIG>.

<FIG> are photographs of an embodiment of the steps for coupling a conductive trace region <NUM> of a knitted textile to an integrated textile electrode region <NUM> of the knitted textile by ablating a knitted extension <NUM> of the conductive trace region <NUM> that extends across the integrated electrode. In <FIG>, the textile section <NUM> of <FIG> is positioned below a laser ablation rig with a protective structure <NUM> (e.g., a thin metal plate) disposed between the knitted extension <NUM> and the textile electrode region <NUM> to allow a portion of the knitted extension <NUM> to be ablated without damaging the textile electrode region <NUM>. <FIG> shows the bare conductive wire <NUM>' exposed in the portion of the knitted extension <NUM> that was ablated. In <FIG>, a conductive adhesive or similar conductive material <NUM> has been placed in and around the region of the knitted extension <NUM> with the bare conductive wire <NUM>' to electrically connect the conductive wire <NUM> of the conductive trace region <NUM> with the textile electrode region <NUM>. In <FIG>, a sealing film <NUM> has been placed around the conductive material <NUM> to protect it and seal it from the surrounding textile layers <NUM>, <NUM>. In <FIG>, an outer sealing patch <NUM> is placed around the entire textile electrode region <NUM> to create a moisture barrier between the textile electrode region <NUM> and the rest of the textile. In some instances, a reservoir material is also placed between the textile electrode region <NUM> and the outer sealing patch <NUM> to retain moisture in the textile electrode region <NUM> and maintain the sensing performance of the textile electrode region <NUM> as the textile remains against the skin.

The examples described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A system for maintaining moisture in a textile electrode (<NUM>), the system comprising:
a single knitted textile layer (<NUM>) having a textile electrode region (<NUM>) knitted therein and an insulated region, wherein the insulated region is knitted from an electrically insulated or electrically inert yarn, adjacent to the textile electrode region, the textile layer (<NUM>) having an inner side (<NUM>) and an outer side (<NUM>) opposite the inner side (<NUM>), the inner side (<NUM>) of the textile electrode region (<NUM>) being exposed and configured to contact against a user's skin (<NUM>);
the textile electrode region (<NUM>) and insulated region together define a continuous textile section:
a reservoir material (<NUM>) positioned above the outer side (<NUM>) of the textile electrode region (<NUM>);
wherein the textile electrode region (<NUM>) is knitted from an electrically conductive yarn (<NUM>) having an exposed electrically conductive surface
and the system further comprises
an outer sealing layer (<NUM>) positioned above the reservoir material (<NUM>), the outer sealing layer (<NUM>) creating a moisture barrier between the textile electrode region (<NUM>) and the rest of the textile layer (<NUM>) by extending over and around the reservoir material (<NUM>) and the textile electrode region (<NUM>).