WO2006066773A1 - Elastic conductor, particularly for providing variable-distance electrical connections - Google Patents

Elastic conductor, particularly for providing variable-distance electrical connections Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006066773A1
WO2006066773A1 PCT/EP2005/013446 EP2005013446W WO2006066773A1 WO 2006066773 A1 WO2006066773 A1 WO 2006066773A1 EP 2005013446 W EP2005013446 W EP 2005013446W WO 2006066773 A1 WO2006066773 A1 WO 2006066773A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
conductor
conducting
conductor according
fibers
electrical connections
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2005/013446
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Marco Di Rienzo
Giovanni Gilardi
Original Assignee
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi - Onlus
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi - Onlus filed Critical Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi - Onlus
Publication of WO2006066773A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006066773A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
    • A61B5/6802—Sensor mounted on worn items
    • A61B5/6804—Garments; Clothes
    • A61B5/6805—Vests
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/113—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb occurring during breathing
    • A61B5/1135—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb occurring during breathing by monitoring thoracic expansion
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02G—CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00—Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/22—Yarns or threads characterised by constructional features, e.g. blending, filament/fibre
    • D02G3/32—Elastic yarns or threads ; Production of plied or cored yarns, one of which is elastic
    • D02G3/328—Elastic yarns or threads ; Production of plied or cored yarns, one of which is elastic containing elastane
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02G—CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00—Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/44—Yarns or threads characterised by the purpose for which they are designed
    • D02G3/441—Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
    • A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an elastic conductor, particularly for providing electrical connections between two points whose distance is variable.
  • the need can occur to connect electrically two points whose distance is variable.
  • sensors for biological signals for example an ECG sensor
  • it is necessary to detect biological signals which must then be sent to an apparatus which must plot the ECG of the person wearing the item of clothing provided with the sensors.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide a conductor which allows to electrically connect to each other two points whose distance can vary over time.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a conductor which can be used in items of clothing in which sensors for detecting biological signals are integrated.
  • a conductor particularly for the electrical connection to each other of two distant points whose distance can vary over time characterized in that it comprises a body made of elastic material on which conducting fibers are wound.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of the conductor according to the invention in a first embodiment
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the conductor according to the invention in a second embodiment. Ways of carrying out the Invention
  • the conductor according to the invention illustrated by way of example as a cord, comprises a body 1 made of elastic material, around which a fabric which comprises conducting fibers is arranged.
  • the elastic body 1 is covered with a sheath 2 made of conducting textile fibers, which therefore allows to connect electrically two points to which the cord can be connected, with the advantage that the body 1, by being elastic, allows the two connected points to vary their mutual distance.
  • the elastic body is of course not necessarily a single body, but can be provided by means of a plurality of elastic elements, for example ribbons or bands, arranged substantially in parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of the element, woven together, or braided or linked by means of conducting and/or non-conducting fibers.
  • the element thus conceived can act as a piezoresistive transducer.
  • the fact of being able to have an indirect measurement of the distance variation allows to use the conductor according to the invention also, for example, as a strain gage.
  • the conductor according to the invention can be used for example by integrating it in an item of clothing provided with sensors in order to detect the heartbeat or other physiological signals, therefore combining also a function for respiration measurement, i.e., chest extension measurement.
  • the cord or conductor By arranging for example a portion of a conductor according to the invention horizontally at the chest, as a consequence of the breathing that the person performs while wearing the item of clothing, the cord or conductor extends and then resumes its original length as a consequence of the expiration step.
  • the change in resistance produced by this extension gives an indication of the depth of respiration, i.e., of the expansion of the chest, and therefore of the pulmonary capacity of the person.
  • the conductor according to the invention can be provided, at at least one end, with a metallic terminal 3, in order to provide an electrical connection.
  • the terminal 3 is connected to the sheath made of conducting fabric.
  • the shape of the conductor according to the invention may be different from the one shown; for example, the conductor can be shaped like a ribbon and the like.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a different embodiment, which is likewise shown by way of non-limiting example and in which fibers 2 made of conducting material are wound in turns around the elastic body 1. The turns are preferably interleaved between non-conducting fibers or fibers arranged at a sufficient distance from each other so that they are not in contact one another.
  • the conducting fibers 1 constitute a solenoid, the total length of which varies over time depending on the extension of the elastic body on which it is wound.
  • the solenoid When the solenoid is crossed by a current, it becomes therefore possible to detect the impedance across it, which therefore varies depending on the extension of the elastic body on which it is wound.
  • the elasticity of the conductor allows to maintain the electrical connection, and at the same time the sheath made of conducting fabric which is arranged externally with respect to the conducting body is also extended, accordingly varying the electrical resistance of the conductor.
  • the variation in electrical resistance allows several applications, as explained earlier. For example, it can provide an indirect measurement of the elongation undergone by said conductor if a table has been prepared which allows to establish a relation between a given percentage of elongation of the conducting body and a given variation of the resistance of said conductor. Moreover, by interleaving elastic conductors and non-elastic conductors it is possible to provide local or point-like detectors.
  • insulating material for example liquid rubber or latex
  • the insulation can of course be full or partial. For example, it is possible to leave some points of the conductor exposed in order to provide electrical terminals or nodes to which other conductors can be connected.
  • the exposed parts can also act as detectors.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

A conductor particularly for the electrical connection to each other of two distant points whose distance can vary over time, comprising a body (1) made of elastic material on which conducting fibers (2) are wound.

Description

ELASTIC CONDUCTOR, PARTICULARLY FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE-DISTANCE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an elastic conductor, particularly for providing electrical connections between two points whose distance is variable. Background Art
As is known, the need can occur to connect electrically two points whose distance is variable. For example, in the case of items of clothing in which sensors for biological signals, for example an ECG sensor, are sewn or integrated, it is necessary to detect biological signals, which must then be sent to an apparatus which must plot the ECG of the person wearing the item of clothing provided with the sensors.
In this case, the use of known types of conductors, which have a constant length, is not satisfactory.
Moreover, in the general case in which it is necessary to have electrical connections between two points whose distance can vary over time, the use of known types of conductors, whose length cannot change in any way during use, is not suitable. Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to provide a conductor which allows to electrically connect to each other two points whose distance can vary over time.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a conductor which can be used in items of clothing in which sensors for detecting biological signals are integrated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a conductor whose electrical resistance varies as a function of the distance between the two points to be connected electrically by means of the conductor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a conductor which is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide, and at competitive costs.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a conductor particularly for the electrical connection to each other of two distant points whose distance can vary over time, characterized in that it comprises a body made of elastic material on which conducting fibers are wound. Brief Description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a conductor according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the conductor according to the invention in a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the conductor according to the invention in a second embodiment. Ways of carrying out the Invention
With reference to Figure 1 , the conductor according to the invention, illustrated by way of example as a cord, comprises a body 1 made of elastic material, around which a fabric which comprises conducting fibers is arranged.
More particularly, the elastic body 1 is covered with a sheath 2 made of conducting textile fibers, which therefore allows to connect electrically two points to which the cord can be connected, with the advantage that the body 1, by being elastic, allows the two connected points to vary their mutual distance.
The elastic body is of course not necessarily a single body, but can be provided by means of a plurality of elastic elements, for example ribbons or bands, arranged substantially in parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of the element, woven together, or braided or linked by means of conducting and/or non-conducting fibers.
When the elastic body or core 1 of the conductor is extended due to an increase in the distance between the two points connected electrically to each other by means of the conductor according to the invention, the resistance of the conductor changes and therefore the current that flows through the body of the conductor changes, thus providing an indication of the variation of the distance between the two electrically connected points.
In general, the element thus conceived can act as a piezoresistive transducer. The fact of being able to have an indirect measurement of the distance variation allows to use the conductor according to the invention also, for example, as a strain gage.
Substantially, the conductor according to the invention can be used for example by integrating it in an item of clothing provided with sensors in order to detect the heartbeat or other physiological signals, therefore combining also a function for respiration measurement, i.e., chest extension measurement.
By arranging for example a portion of a conductor according to the invention horizontally at the chest, as a consequence of the breathing that the person performs while wearing the item of clothing, the cord or conductor extends and then resumes its original length as a consequence of the expiration step. The change in resistance produced by this extension gives an indication of the depth of respiration, i.e., of the expansion of the chest, and therefore of the pulmonary capacity of the person.
Conveniently, the conductor according to the invention can be provided, at at least one end, with a metallic terminal 3, in order to provide an electrical connection.
The terminal 3 is connected to the sheath made of conducting fabric.
Obviously, the shape of the conductor according to the invention may be different from the one shown; for example, the conductor can be shaped like a ribbon and the like. Figure 2 illustrates a different embodiment, which is likewise shown by way of non-limiting example and in which fibers 2 made of conducting material are wound in turns around the elastic body 1. The turns are preferably interleaved between non-conducting fibers or fibers arranged at a sufficient distance from each other so that they are not in contact one another.
In this manner, the conducting fibers 1 constitute a solenoid, the total length of which varies over time depending on the extension of the elastic body on which it is wound. When the solenoid is crossed by a current, it becomes therefore possible to detect the impedance across it, which therefore varies depending on the extension of the elastic body on which it is wound.
Likewise, it is possible to utilize the magnetic field generated by the solenoid for applications that require this kind of property. In practice it has been found that the conductor according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to electrically connect to each other two distant points whose distance can vary over time.
The elasticity of the conductor, particularly of the core of the conductor, allows to maintain the electrical connection, and at the same time the sheath made of conducting fabric which is arranged externally with respect to the conducting body is also extended, accordingly varying the electrical resistance of the conductor.
The variation in electrical resistance allows several applications, as explained earlier. For example, it can provide an indirect measurement of the elongation undergone by said conductor if a table has been prepared which allows to establish a relation between a given percentage of elongation of the conducting body and a given variation of the resistance of said conductor. Moreover, by interleaving elastic conductors and non-elastic conductors it is possible to provide local or point-like detectors.
Similar considerations apply with reference to embodiments which allow to detect impedance and its variation across a solenoid.
The conductor thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In particular, it is possible to cover the conductor with insulating material, for example liquid rubber or latex, in order to improve the conductivity of the conducting fibers and minimize the risk of interference with other electrical signals or noise signals.
The insulation can of course be full or partial. For example, it is possible to leave some points of the conductor exposed in order to provide electrical terminals or nodes to which other conductors can be connected. The exposed parts can also act as detectors.
The person skilled in the art clearly understands that the innovative characteristics of a conductor thus configured, while being described mainly in this document by means of examples of operation in terms of signal detection, allow uses which are diversified also as regards active use. This means, for example, the possibility to vary the length of the exemplifying conductor of Figure 2 in order to generate a magnetic field which is suitable for the intended application, said magnetic field being also optionally variable if a mechanical movement of extension and release of the elastic body of the conductor is forced. Similar considerations apply for example if the conductor is used as a resistor with variable resistance, which can be obtained by extending or releasing the elastic body, or as a solenoid which can be used with various values of impedance according to requirements.
Finally, in practice the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2004A002430 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A conductor particularly for the electrical connection to each other of two distant points whose distance can vary over time, characterized in that it comprises a body (1) made of elastic material on which conducting fibers (2) are wound.
2. The conductor according to claim 1, characterized in that said conducting fibers (2) constitute a sheath made of conducting textile fibers which is arranged around the body made of elastic material.
3. The conductor according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, at at least one end of said body, a metallic terminal (3) which is connected to said conducting textile fibers (2) arranged around said conducting body (1).
4. The conductor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conductor is shaped like a cord.
5. The conductor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conductor is ribbon-like.
6. Use of a conductor according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used as a strain gage.
7. An item of clothing with biological signal sensors integrated therewith, characterized in that it comprises at least one conductor according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, said conductor being connected to said item of clothing.
PCT/EP2005/013446 2004-12-20 2005-12-14 Elastic conductor, particularly for providing variable-distance electrical connections WO2006066773A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT002430A ITMI20042430A1 (en) 2004-12-20 2004-12-20 ELASTIC CONDUCTOR ELEMENT PARTICULARLY FOR REALIZING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS VARIABLE DISTANCE
ITMI2004A002430 2004-12-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006066773A1 true WO2006066773A1 (en) 2006-06-29

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2005/013446 WO2006066773A1 (en) 2004-12-20 2005-12-14 Elastic conductor, particularly for providing variable-distance electrical connections

Country Status (2)

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IT (1) ITMI20042430A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2006066773A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2289412A1 (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-02 Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute Unconstrained wearable spirometer apparatus, system, and measurement method using the same
WO2019077799A1 (en) * 2017-10-20 2019-04-25 ミツフジ株式会社 Garment, conductive composite thread, and disposable garment

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0290977A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-17 COATS & CLARK, INC. Conductive yarn and method and apparatus for making same
US20030124349A1 (en) * 2000-09-21 2003-07-03 Deangelis Alfred R. Temperature dependent electrically resistive yarn
WO2004027132A1 (en) * 2002-09-14 2004-04-01 W. Zimmermann Gmbh & Co. Kg Electrically conductive thread
WO2004097089A1 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Invista Technologies S.A.R.L. Electrically conductive elastic composite yarn, methods for making the same, and articles incorporating the same

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0290977A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-17 COATS & CLARK, INC. Conductive yarn and method and apparatus for making same
US20030124349A1 (en) * 2000-09-21 2003-07-03 Deangelis Alfred R. Temperature dependent electrically resistive yarn
WO2004027132A1 (en) * 2002-09-14 2004-04-01 W. Zimmermann Gmbh & Co. Kg Electrically conductive thread
WO2004097089A1 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Invista Technologies S.A.R.L. Electrically conductive elastic composite yarn, methods for making the same, and articles incorporating the same

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ROSSI DANILO ET AL.: "Electroactive Fabrics and wearablr biomonitoring devices", AUTEX RESEARCH JOURNAL, vol. 3, December 2003 (2003-12-01), pages 180 - 185, XP002374913 *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2289412A1 (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-02 Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute Unconstrained wearable spirometer apparatus, system, and measurement method using the same
WO2019077799A1 (en) * 2017-10-20 2019-04-25 ミツフジ株式会社 Garment, conductive composite thread, and disposable garment
JP2019076214A (en) * 2017-10-20 2019-05-23 ミツフジ株式会社 Garment, conductive complex yarn and disposable garment

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