Health-monitor patch

Abstract

A monitor comprises circuitry to receive a signal and process the signal to monitor at least one characteristic of a subject, and a flexible polymer casing forming a waterproof enclosure for the circuitry. The flexible polymer casing is infused with a conductive material at at least one location to form at least one infused electrode that extends from an exterior of the flexible polymer casing to an interior of the flexible polymer casing, and the at least one infused electrode is coupled to the circuitry so as to allow the signal to pass from outside the flexible polymer casing to the circuitry. A polymer in a portion of the flexible polymer casing that is infused with the conductive material at the at least one location is cross-linked with a polymer in a portion of the flexible polymer casing that is not infused with the conductive material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making a monitor for a subject, comprising:
 providing circuitry configured to receive a signal and process the signal to monitor at least one characteristic of the subject;   injecting a conductive polymer into a mold to form at least one polymer electrode of the monitor;   injecting, while the conductive polymer is in an uncured or a partially cured state, a non-conductive polymer into the mold so at to contact the conductive polymer;   curing the conductive polymer and the non-conductive polymer to produce a flexible polymer casing that forms a waterproof enclosure for the circuitry, wherein the at least one polymer electrode extends from an exterior of the flexible polymer casing to an interior of the flexible polymer casing; and   coupling the at least one polymer electrode to the circuitry so as to allow the signal to pass from outside the flexible polymer casing to the circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 infusing a polymer material with a conductive material to produce the conductive polymer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer material comprises silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the conductive material comprises carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the conductive material comprises carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer electrode comprises first and second spaced-apart electrodes and the circuitry is configured to process a signal from the first and second spaced-apart electrodes to monitor a cardiac characteristic of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer is uncured when contacted by the non-conductive polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer is partially uncured when contacted by the non-conductive polymer.