Apparatus, system and methods for sensing and processing physiological signals

Abstract

Monitoring of physiological signals is effected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus, system and/or method is directed to sensing physiological signals such as ECG signals. A skin-contacting electrode apparatus includes an electrically conductive sheet having a conductive surface configured and arranged to contact a subject's skin, and conductive flexible microfibers extending from the conductive surface and configured and arranged to protrude into skin pores and sense an ECG signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of conductive microfibers configured and arranged with density of the conductive microfibers per area, length, and flexibility characteristics that facilitate penetration of the conductive microfibers into pores of human skin and sensing of ECG signals from within the pores; and   a digitizing circuit electrically coupled to the conductive microfibers and configured and arranged to digitize the ECG signals.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein different ones of the conductive microfibers are configured and arranged to flexibly bend in different directions and to enter a plurality of differently-oriented skin pores of a subject and sense the ECG signal therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive microfibers are configured and arranged with a density of number of microfibers per unit area that is high enough to facilitate collection of an ECG signal from within the pores and low enough to facilitate passage of the microfibers between body hairs to make contact with the skin. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of conductive microfibers are configured and arranged with flexibility that is high enough to facilitates passage of the microfibers to a depth into the pores below a surface layer of the skin and low enough to facilitate passage of the microfibers between the body hairs to reach into the pores. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive microfibers are configured and arranged with flexibility that is high enough to facilitates passage of the microfibers to a depth into the pores below a surface layer of the skin and low enough to facilitate passage of the microfibers between the body hairs to reach into the pores. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive microfibers are configured and arranged with fiber length and density of fibers per unit area to facilitate collection of an ECG signal from location on a subject's skin from which physiological signals are to be obtained. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive microfibers are attached to, and in electrical communication with, a mostly planar conductive surface that electrically couples the conductive microfibers to the digitizing circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the mostly planar surface includes a metallic material and the microfibers include carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the mostly planar surface is a disk having a diameter of between about 10 to 30 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further including a garment of substantially non-conducting elastic fabric, wherein the electrically conductive surface is affixed to an inside portion of the non-conducting fabric and configured and arranged to sense the ECG signals from within skin pores of a person wearing the garment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive microfibers are configured and arranged to, in the absence of compressive force, extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the conductive surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the density of microfibers is in a range of 100 to 5000 per square cm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the microfibers is in a range of 250 to 2500 micrometers. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microfibers include a metallic material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive microfibers are configured and arranged to collect the ECG signal without penetrating the skin. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive microfibers is configured and arranged to sense the ECG signals from inner surfaces of the pores below a surface layer of the skin. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 forming a plurality of conductive microfibers with density of the conductive microfibers per area, length, and flexibility characteristics that facilitate penetration of the conductive microfibers into pores of human skin and sensing of ECG signals from within the pores; and   electrically coupling a digitizing circuit to the conductive microfibers, the digitizing circuit being configured and arranged to digitize the ECG signals.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the plurality of conductive microfibers includes forming the conductive microfibers with a number of fibers per unit area that is high enough to facilitate collection of an ECG signal from within the pores and low enough to facilitate passage of the microfibers between body hairs to make contact with the skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the plurality of conductive microfibers includes:
 selecting a fiber length and density of fibers per unit area based upon characteristics of skin on a location on a subject from which the signals are to be acquired, and   forming the plurality of conductive microfibers with the selected fiber length and density.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the plurality of conductive microfibers includes configuring the conductive microfibers to flexibly bend in different directions and to enter a plurality of differently-oriented skin pores of a subject for sensing the ECG signal from within the plurality of differently-oriented skin pores.