Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Structure of body-contacting electrode or electrode inserted...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2003-04-22
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Structure of body-contacting electrode or electrode inserted...
C600S372000, C600S513000, C128S905000, C128S925000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553247
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, which belt is to be placed on the chest. A heart rate monitor is a device used in sports and medicine, the device measuring the human heart rate on the chest or at the wrist.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An electrode belt which belongs to a heart rate monitor and is to be placed on the chest is known to have such a structure that there is an electronics unit at the central portion of the belt and an electrode on both sides of the electronics unit. The electrodes measure the electric pulse of the heart and transmit the measurement result to the electronics unit via a conductor combining the electrode and the electronics unit. Components included in the electrode belt, such as the electronics unit and electrodes, are coated with plastic or rubber in order to protect the components from humidity, for instance. Depending on the structure of the electrode belt, the electronics unit often also comprises means for transmitting an electric pulse as an analogous burst to a receiver and display unit at the wrist, for example. Alternatively the electrode belt itself may contain means for storing and displaying the electric pulses.
Usually electrode belts have such a structure that a rubber or plastic supporting structure coating the components of the electrode belt is relatively rigid between the electronics unit and the electrodes. Such electrode belts are not very well suited for slim adults and children, since the electrode belt does not bend and adapt well enough to a body of a person with a narrow chest. In some of the prior art solutions, the problem has been approached such that the plastic supporting structure between the electronics unit and the electrode has an accordion-like shape, in which case the electrode belt can be bent immediately from outside the electronics unit. In the known solutions, the conductor combining the electronics unit and the electrode is a straight section inside the supporting structure having an accordion-like shape. The prior art solution is illustrated by FIG.
4
B. It can be seen from the figure that a conductor
304
extends as a separate section along a supporting structure
300
A/
300
B and pierces the supporting structure in point
412
illustrated by a broken line.
The prior art solution includes a serious weakness: when the accordion-like supporting structure is bent or stretched, there is a big risk of the conductor to be damaged or come loose from the electronics unit or the electrode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to implement an improved structure of an electrode belt. This is achieved by an electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, which is described in the following. It deals with an electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, the electrode belt comprising one or more electrodes for measuring the heart rate on the chest, an electronics unit for handling the information to be received from the electrode, a conductor for providing electrical contact between the electronics unit and the electrode, at least one wavelike supporting structure provided with alternating upwards and downwards directing sections and intended for protecting the conductor. The conductor protected by the supporting structure of the electrode belt follows the shape of the supporting structure, thus having a wavelike form.
The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The invention relates to an electrode belt of a heart rate monitor. In the specification of the invention, the electrode belt refers to a substantially belt-like structure, whereby the length of the belt to be wound around the chest is substantially greater than the width of the belt. Viewed from the side of the electrodes, the length of an electrode belt is typically 5 to 10 times greater than its width, although the invention is naturally not restricted to the fact how much bigger the length is compared to the width. According to a preferred embodiment, the electrode belt comprises means for transmitting heart rate information to a receiver unit to be held at the wrist, the receiver unit possibly also comprising display means for displaying the heart rate information. If the electrode belt comprises the means for transmitting the heart rate information to a receiver, such as a receiver at the wrist or an external computer, the electrode belt is called a transmitter electrode belt. The invention is not, however, restricted to the fact whether or not the electrode belt comprises transmitter electronics. The electrode belt itself may comprise memory means for storing heart rate information and/or display means for displaying the heart rate. However, the invention is not restricted to the fact whether the electrode belt itself comprises the memory means for storing heart rate information or whether the electrode belt comprises the display means for displaying the measured heart rate information. The invention is not restricted to the fact either, how many electrodes the electrode belt contains. According to a preferred embodiment, there are two electrodes, one on each side of the transmitter electronics, but also other solutions are possible. The invention is not restricted to the fact either, which material the coating, i.e. the supporting structure protecting the components of the electrode belt is made of. According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting structure is made of plastic, but it may also be made of rubber or a similar material that is easy to shape.
In accordance with the invention, the supporting structure between the electronics and the electrodes in the electrode belt of a heart rate monitor, which belt is to be placed on the chest, is made of an elastic material to provide the supporting structure with a flexible and wavelike shape with alternating upwards and downwards directing sections. The conductor which is to be found inside the supporting structure between the electrode and the electronics unit and which provides electrical contact follows the shape of the supporting structure and thus has a wavelike shape. In accordance with the invention, the conductor adapts to the wavelike shape of the supporting structure. According to a preferred embodiment, the conductor is placed into the middle of the supporting structure, which means that the distance from the conductor to a first surface of the supporting structure substantially equals to the distance from the conductor to a second surface of the supporting structure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conductor inside the supporting structure is built onto a conduction base to support the conductor. The conductor made of an electrically conductive material can be built onto the conduction base by using known manufacturing methods, e.g. by pressing. The cross-section of the conductor is preferably round, but it can also have a strip-like or, when pressed onto a conduction base, a planar shape. The conduction base is formed from a flexible material, such as polyimide, polyethylene, polycarbonate or the like, preferably into a thin film. In the manufacturing stage at which an electrode belt is being molded, the conduction base is preferably formed to follow the wavelike shape of the supporting structure. According to a preferred embodiment, the conduction base of the electrode belt, functioning as a plate supporting the conductor, is a uniform piece, and thus both electrodes are connected to it and the conduction base extends through the electronics unit.
The wavelike shape of the supporting structure, conductor and conduction base according to the invention preferably means that this wavelike shape comprises at least one wave ridge and at least one wave trough. Preferably said wavelike shape is substantially a sine curve. According to a preferred embodiment, the shape becomes wavelike at the edge of the electronics unit, wherefore the belt can be bent immediately from the edge of the electronics unit. When the electrode belt is viewed from the side, i.e. from
Argenbright Tony M.
Hoang Johnny H.
LandOfFree
Electrode belt of heart rate monitor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electrode belt of heart rate monitor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrode belt of heart rate monitor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3079515