IT202100019841A1 - IMPROVED ELECTROSTIMULATION GARMENT - Google Patents

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled: ?IMPROVED ELECTROSTIMULATION GARMENT?.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved electrostimulating garment.

With particular reference to the sports and physical rehabilitation sector? the use of electrodes for human muscle stimulation by electric impulse is known.

Generally, these devices are placed locally on the skin of a user in correspondence with a body muscle.

In detail, these devices include one or more electrodes configured to apply electrical impulses repeated over time to the underlying muscle and capable of causing as many corresponding contractures that are completely analogous to those caused by practicing sport.

In particular, the electrodes can take on different shapes and sizes depending on the area of the body on which they are to be applied.

They are operated by an electrostimulating device which allows electric current to pass through them, typically by means of an external command which can be operated by the user such as, for example, pressing a button.

Consequently, for There? can take place, each single electrode must be connected to the electrostimulating device by means of cables.

It is therefore evident that the known devices inconveniently force the user to remain motionless during their use or in the immediate vicinity of the device.

Furthermore, if the user decides to apply these electrodes to his own muscles, the latter must necessarily have available an adhesive gel or a functionally analogous substance to be applied locally to the affected area to fix them in position.

To solve at least partially the aforesaid drawbacks, garments provided with electrodes have been developed.

In this case, the electrodes are arranged in such a way that, once the garment has been worn, they are already in place. positioned at the main body muscles, thus avoiding? to apply an adhesive gel.

Furthermore, each electrode associated with a respective power cable that connects it to the external electrostimulating device.

However, these electrostimulating garments are also susceptible to further improvements.

In particular, the fact of necessarily having to be connected to an external electrostimulating device by means of cables considerably limits the mobility? of? the user that ? forced to remain practically immobile during use of the garment.

Furthermore, the electrodes, the cables for connecting the electrodes with the electrostimulating device and the electrostimulating device itself associated with the clothing are clearly visible from the outside, thus limiting their use to sporting or medical environments and contexts, making them unsuitable , for example, in work, playful or social situations.

Last but not least, the functionality of these clothes? often limited to mere functionality? stimulant linked to the application of electrical impulses. There? it means that if a user, wearing the garment, wants to know his own biophysical and vital parameters, he should inconveniently equip himself with an additional external device, configured to detect these parameters, complicating the use and application of the device itself in combination with the ?garment itself.

The main task of the present invention ? that of devising an electrostimulating garment perfected by valuable aesthetic features that can be worn by a user in any environment, ie? not only in the medical or sports fields, but also in the workplace, playful and mundane.

Within this aim, another object of the present invention is that of devising an improved electrostimulating garment that is easily wearable and that allows the user to move freely without having to restrict their movements.

Another aim of the present invention ? that of devising an improved electrostimulating garment that allows the monitoring of biophysical and vital parameters in the field of physical health care, through the use of a single device, avoiding the user having to provide for the combined use of different devices.

Additional purpose of the present invention ? that of devising an improved electrostimulating garment which allows the user to wear the garment in different circumstances and situations and for prolonged periods of time, without causing discomfort to the user.

Finally, another object of the present invention ? that of devising an improved electrostimulating garment which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the ambit of a simple, rational solution which is easy and effective to use and has a low cost. The objects set forth above are achieved by the present improved electrostimulating garment having the characteristics of claim 1. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an improved electrostimulating garment, illustrated by way of indicative, but not limiting, in the joined tables of drawings in which:

figure 1 ? a front view of the garment according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

figure 2 ? a front view of the garment according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment.

With particular reference to these figures, yes? generally indicated by 1 an improved electrostimulating garment.

Conveniently, garment 1 is provided with at least one seam 15 and ? chosen from the list including: trousers 10, a t-shirt 11 or a sweatshirt.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the garment 1 is a pant 10 provided with one or more? pockets 12 and comprising at least one electrostimulating element 5.

Garment 1 includes:

- at least one portion made of fabric 2 and intended to be placed in contact with a body portion 3 of a user 4; and - a plurality? electrostimulating elements associated with the tissue portion and suitable for applying an electrical impulse to the body portion 3; - detection means 6 of at least one of a biophysical parameter and a vital parameter of the user 4.

With reference to the embodiment shown in figure 1, the detection means 6 are arranged in at least one of the pockets 12 in such a way that their view from the outside is at least partially obscured.

Advantageously, the garment 1 can? be made entirely of fabric.

However, it is not excluded from the scope of the present discussion that the garment 1 is made in a plurality of of materials combined with each other. Usefully, the electrostimulating element 5 ? configured to apply an electrical impulse to stimulate muscle contraction or to massage the body portion 3.

Preferably, the body portion 3 is chosen from the list including: neck, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs.

According to the invention , the garment 1 comprises means for thermoregulating the body portion of the user associated with the fabric portion. Advantageously, are the thermoregulation means arranged near the of the electrostimulating elements 5.

Preferably, the thermoregulation means comprise a plurality of of modulation elements of at least one of the biophysical parameters and/or of the vital parameters.

In detail, the modulating elements include a unit? dispensing of a refrigerated fluid.

Conveniently, the modulating elements are coupled to means for feeding the refrigerated fluid.

It is specified that in the context of this discussion, refrigerated fluid refers without distinction to a gas or a liquid.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the garment according to the invention, the refrigerated fluid is like a liquid.

In detail, the biophysical parameter ? chosen from the list including: time of use of the garment 1, distance traveled by the user 4, calories consumed by the user 4, furthermore the vital parameter ? chosen from the list including body temperature of user 4, respiratory rate of user 4, blood oxygenation of user 4 or blood pressure of user 4.

Conveniently, the electrostimulating element 5 comprises at least one portion 7 of adhesion to the user's skin made at least partly of silicone.

In particular, the fact that the adherence portion 7 is made at least in part of silicone allows to increase its adherence to the body portion 3 of the user 4 and, at the same time, to improve the transmission of the electrical impulse emitted by the ?electrostimulating element 5.

In fact, the adherence of the adhesion portion 7 with the body portion 3 stimulates the production of sweat which acts as a conducting fluid for the electrical impulse generated by the electrostimulating element 5.

This arrangement allows so? not only to transfer the electric impulse produced by the electrostimulating element 5 to the body portion 3 effectively but also to amplify it in intensity thanks to the conductivity? electrical characteristic of human sweat.

Conveniently, the detecting means 6 comprise a plurality of of sensor elements 14 able to detect at least one of the biophysical parameters and the vital parameters.

Preferably, the garment 1 comprises a plurality of? of electrostimulating elements 5, each of the sensor elements 14 being associated with a respective electrostimulating element 5.

It should be noted that, in the particular embodiment shown in figure 1, the electrostimulator element 5 and the sensor element 14 are made in a single body capable of performing both respective functions.

In accordance with this last embodiment, the unit? of dispensing of the refrigerated fluid comprises a plurality? of holes made on the adhesion portion 7 and suitable for dispensing the fluid on the user?s skin. However, different embodiments are not excluded, in which the electrostimulator element 5 and the sensor element 14 are two independent and mutually separated bodies.

There? means that it is not excluded from the scope of the present invention that, for example, the garment 1 comprises at least one electrostimulating element 5 and a plurality of of sensor elements 14 in which each of them ? configured to detect a different biophysical sign or vital sign.

Usefully, the garment 1 comprises supply means 8 of the electrostimulating elements 5 and the sensor elements 14, the garment 1 being provided with the pocket 12 in which the supply means 8 are housed in such a way as to hide the view from the outside of the ?garment 1.

Preferably, the power supply means 8 comprise at least one power supply 16 and at least one connection element 9 between the electrostimulating elements 5 and the sensor elements 14, the connection element 9 being arranged at the seams 15 of the garment 1. Advantageously, the connecting elements 9 are of the type of conductive wires.

In the particular embodiment shown in figure 1, the seams 15 are made with the conductive threads.

There? it means that instead of the sewing thread normally used in the textile sector, conductive threads are used in the garment 1 according to the present invention.

Pi? in detail, the seams 15 are made through the use of electrically conductive material which allows the passage of the electric current coming from the power supply means 8.

However, it is not excluded from the scope of the present discussion that the seams 15 are made with the fabric sewing threads and the conductive threads are housed between the seams 15 of the garment 1.

Usefully, it is not excluded from the scope of this discussion that the conductive threads are arranged externally to the seams 15.

In other words, during the manufacturing phase of the garment 1, the connecting elements 9 are arranged between the portions of the garment itself which are to be sewn together.

For example, the conductive threads are housed at the shoulder, i.e. between the trunk portion and the sleeve portion and are arranged in the center of the respective seams 15.

In particular, in the case in which the electrostimulating elements 5 and the sensory elements 14 are made in a single body, the seams 15 allow the passage of the electric current from the power supply means 8 towards the electrostimulating elements and the sensory elements themselves.

Alternatively, if the electrostimulating elements 5 and the sensory elements 14 are made in separate bodies, the seams 15 allow the passage of electric current between the electrostimulating elements 5 and the sensory elements 14, or vice versa.

The fact that the seams 15 consist of the connecting elements 9, or alternatively, that the latter are housed in the seams 15 ensures that the garment 1 has valuable aesthetic features since it does not have any connecting elements 9 visible from the outside.

Conveniently, the power supply 16 operates with disposable or rechargeable batteries.

In the case of rechargeable batteries, the latter are recharged by means known to those skilled in the art such as, for example, an electric power cable.

? It must be emphasized that this arrangement allows the user 4 to use the garment 1 by moving freely during use of the same, without that there is a need? to remain connected to the electricity network on an ongoing basis due to the inconvenient presence of electrical connection cables.

4) Preferably, the garment 1 comprises at least one unit? reception and processing system 13 operatively connected to the sensing means 6, to the electrostimulating elements 5 and to the thermoregulation means for receiving at least one of a biophysical parameter and/or a vital parameter and for varying at least one of the latter as a function of the received signal.

In particular, the unit? reception and processing system 13 processes a state of health of the user 4 processed as a function of the biophysical parameters and/or vital parameters received as input.

Subsequently, the thermoregulation means are activated according to the state of health elaborated.

It is specified that, in the context of this discussion, the expression ?state of health? refers to the condition of general physical well-being due to the correct functionality? of the user?s organism 4.

Usefully, each of the electrostimulating elements 5 ? associated with a respective connection element 9 by interposition of connection means 17, the connection means 17 comprising at least one male element associated with one of the electrostimulating element 5 and the connection element 9, and at least one female element associated with the? other between the connecting element 9 and the electrostimulating element 5.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, the male element ? associated with the electrostimulating element 5 and the female element ? associated with the connecting element 9.

Preferably, the joining means 17 are of the press-stud type. ? it is necessary to point out that this arrangement allows the user 4 to choose according to his own needs which electrostimulating elements 5 to connect to the connection elements 9 and, therefore, to supply.

Yes ? in practice it has been observed that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and objects.

In particular, it is underlined that the particular expedient of providing for the presence of conductive elements and detection means positioned inside the pockets in combination with the fact of making the conductive seams guarantees a prestigious aesthetic appearance of the garment, thus allowing a user to wear the garment itself in any environment, not only in the medical and/or sports environment.

Furthermore, the particular expedient of providing power supply means operating via batteries allows the user to be able to move freely, without this? inconveniently having to rely on the use of electric power cables which limit its movements.

In addition, the particular precaution of providing a garment equipped with both sensor elements and electrostimulating elements allows the monitoring of biophysical and vital parameters in the field of physical health care through the use of a single device, thus avoiding the user of having to provide for the combined use of different devices.

Claims (10)

1) Garment (1) improved electrostimulator, comprising: - at least one portion made of fabric (2) and intended to be placed in contact with a body portion (3) of a user (4); And - a plurality? electrostimulating elements (5) associated with said tissue portion and suitable for applying an electrical impulse to said body portion (3); - detection means (6) of at least one of a biophysical parameter and a vital parameter of said user (4) and, in turn, comprising a plurality of sensor elements (14) associated with a respective said electrostimulating element (5), said sensor elements (14) being able to detect at least one of said biophysical parameters and said vital parameters; characterized in that it comprises means for thermoregulating said body portion of said user associated with said fabric portion (2). 2) Garment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said thermoregulation means are arranged near the? of said electrostimulating elements (5). 3) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermoregulation means comprise a plurality of elements for modulating at least one of said biophysical parameters and/or said vital parameters. 4) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said biophysical parameter ? chosen from the list comprising: time of use of said garment (1), distance covered by said user (4), calories consumed by said user (4), and said vital parameter ? chosen from the list comprising: body temperature of said user (4), respiratory rate of said user (4), blood oxygenation of said user (4) or arterial pressure of said user (4). 5) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electrostimulating element (5) comprises at least one portion of adhesion (7) to the skin of said user (4) made at least in part of silicone. 6) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said modulating elements comprise a unit? dispensing of a refrigerated fluid. 7) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises supply means (8) of said electrostimulating elements (5), of said sensor elements (14) and of said modulating elements, said garment being provided with at least one pocket (12) in which housed said feed means (8) in such a way as to hide the view thereof from the outside of said garment (1). 8) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one?unit? receiving and processing system (13) operatively connected to said sensing means (6), to said electrostimulating elements (5) and to said thermoregulation means to receive at least one of said biophysical parameter and/or said vital parameter and to vary at least one of the latter depending on the received signal. 9) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that ? provided with at least one seam (15) and at least one of a trouser (10), a t-shirt (11) or a sweatshirt. 10) Garment (1) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said power supply means (8) comprise at least one power supply (16) and at least one connection element (9) between said electrostimulating elements (5) and said sensor elements (14), said at least one element connection (9) being arranged at the seams (15) of said garment.