Physiological monitoring garment

Abstract

A physiological monitoring garment includes a fabric portion. At least one elongate stretchable textile data/power bus is disposed the fabric portion. The elongate stretchable textile data/power bus includes a plurality of integral conductors, woven, knitted, or braided along the length thereof. One or more sensors are connected to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus.

1 . A physiological monitoring garment comprising:
 a fabric portion;   at least one elongate stretchable textile data/power bus disposed on the fabric portion, the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus including a plurality of integral conductors, woven, knitted, or braided along the length thereof; and   one or more sensors connected to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus.   
     
     
         2 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which at least one of said plurality of integral conductors extends externally from said textile/data power bus for connecting said one or more sensors thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which the fabric portion is an elastic fabric portion. 
     
     
         4 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which the plurality of conductors are woven, knitted, or braided in a strain relief pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 4  in which the plurality of conductors include conductors for data transfer, conductors for power transfer, and conductors structured and arranged to form an electric shield for reducing noise. 
     
     
         6 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 4  in which a coating of conductive material is disposed on the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus to form an electrical shield for reducing noise. 
     
     
         7 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 4  in which said strain relief pattern is out of the plane of said stretchable data/power bus. 
     
     
         8 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 4  in which said strain relief pattern is in the plane of said stretchable data/power bus. 
     
     
         9 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which connectors connect the one or more sensors to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus. 
     
     
         10 . The physiological monitoring device of  claim 9  in which the connectors are insulation displacement connectors. 
     
     
         11 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which a sensor includes a respiration monitoring device. 
     
     
         12 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 11  in which said respiration monitoring device includes:
 at least a first elongate stretchable textile member,   at least first and second conductive components associated with said textile member, and   threads of said textile member providing dielectric separation between the at least first and second conductive components so that the expansion and contraction of the textile member results in a change in the spacing between the first and second conductive components for measuring change in capacitance.   
     
     
         13 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 12  in which the first conductive component includes woven, knitted, or braided conductive threads integral with said first textile member. 
     
     
         14 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 13  in which there are a plurality of elongate stretchable textile members adjacent each other and each includes integral woven, knitted, or braided conductive threads. 
     
     
         15 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 12  in which said respiration monitoring device is disposed in or on said garment proximate said data/power bus. 
     
     
         16 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 1  in which a said sensor includes:
 a flexible circuit board configured as an electrode,   a conductive portion on one surface of said flexible circuit board, and   a dielectric material on said conductive portion.   
     
     
         17 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which an opposing surface of said flexible circuit board includes signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which said flexible circuit board is connected to a second flexible circuit board including signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         19 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 17  further including conductive traces interconnecting said conductive portion with said signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         20 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which said conductive portion is a conductive foil laminated on said flexible circuit board. 
     
     
         21 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which said conductive portion is conductive material sputtered or plated on said flexible circuit board. 
     
     
         22 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which said dielectric material is material sputtered, laminated, evaporated, or spun onto said conductive portion. 
     
     
         23 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which the sensor further includes an insulating edge for preventing short circuits. 
     
     
         24 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 16  in which the flexible circuit board is configured to include at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The physiological monitoring garment of  claim 24  in which the two electrodes each include signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         26 . A physiological monitoring garment comprising:
 a first fabric portion;   a second fabric portion;   an elongate stretchable textile data/power bus between the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion, the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus including a plurality of integral conductors, woven, knitted, or braided along the length thereof; and   one or more sensors connected to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus.   
     
     
         27 . A physiological monitoring device comprising:
 an elongate stretchable textile data/power bus including a plurality of integral conductors, woven, knitted, or braided along the length thereof; and   one or more sensors connected to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus.   
     
     
         28 . A sensor for an individual comprising:
 a circuit board configured as a bioelectrode,   a conductive portion on one surface of said circuit board, and   a dielectric material on said conductive portion electrically isolating said bioelectrode from the individual.   
     
     
         29 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which an opposing surface of said circuit board includes signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which said circuit board is connected to a second circuit board including signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         31 . The sensor of  claim 29  further including conductive traces interconnecting said conductive portion with said signal conditioning circuitry. 
     
     
         32 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which said conductive portion is a conductive foil laminated on said circuit board. 
     
     
         33 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which said conductive portion is conductive material sputtered or plated on said circuit board. 
     
     
         34 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which said dielectric material is material sputtered, laminated, evaporated, or spun onto said conductive portion. 
     
     
         35 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which the circuit board is flexible. 
     
     
         36 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which the circuit board is rigid. 
     
     
         37 . The sensor of  claim 28  in which said sensor monitors biopotentials. 
     
     
         38 . The sensor of  claim 37  in which the biopotentials monitored by said sensor include at least one of ECG, EMG, EEG and EOG. 
     
     
         39 . A sensor comprising:
 a circuit board configured as a bioelectrode, a conductive portion on one surface of said circuit board, and a dielectric material on said conductive portion whereby said sensor is an electrostatic sensor.