JP2015093137A - Cloth with fiber electrode, method for manufacturing the same, and electrical impedance measuring belt - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide cloth with fiber electrodes, the cloth that can be used for a belt to take out a biological signal and has a structure of facilitating a bioelectric signal to be taken out from three or more electrodes, and to provide an electrical impedance measuring belt using the cloth with fiber electrodes.SOLUTION: Cloth 1 with fiber electrodes comprises base fabric 2 comprising yarn of non-conductive fibers and strip electrodes 3 comprising the yarn of the conductive fibers, is formed of the strip electrodes 3 at predetermined intervals, and is formed of the strip electrodes 3 from the surface side of the base fabric 2 over to the back side thereof. The base fabric 2 and the strip electrodes 3 are formed by double raschel knitting.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fabric with a fiber electrode, a method for producing the same, and a belt for measuring electrical impedance.

In recent years, ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGE
MEASURING DEVICE OF LIVING BODY (hereinafter referred to as EIT) has been developed, and a method for calculating the absolute resistivity of lungs or the like from image data obtained by EIT has been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 relates to EIT, for example, by attaching 8 electrocardiogram electrodes horizontally and at equal intervals to the surface of a human body and applying a weak constant current to the electrical impedance inside the living body from the potential distribution generated on the body surface. There is a description that a tomographic image is obtained by searching. Patent Document 2 relates to EIT, when a plurality of electrodes are attached so as to surround a predetermined position on the surface of a human body, and a current is applied from the first input electrode pair, the potential difference between the first output electrode pair , And when a current is applied from the second input electrode pair, a potential difference detecting means for detecting a potential difference between the second output electrode pair, the first output electrode pair, and the second output electrode pair, And an impedance respiration measuring device including a calculating means for calculating an average impedance based on a potential difference obtained from each of the above. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, electrode plates are attached to the body at predetermined intervals.

  Patent Document 3 relates to an undergarment electrode that electrically stimulates the human body, in which an electrode is formed by weaving a conductive thread into a weave of a power net made of a synthetic fiber of nylon and urethane, and the conductive thread is a gold thread , Use of metal yarn such as silver yarn, or conductive fine wire such as copper wire, aluminum wire, and carbon fiber.

  Patent Document 4 relates to a conductive fabric for human body sensors, and a plurality of conductive fabrics formed by weaving or weaving conductive fibers on the surface of a base fabric made of non-conductive fibers. It is described that the layers are arranged in an island shape in a state of being insulated from each other, and in order to impart greater stretchability, the conductive fibers supplied in a stripe shape by a double raschel knitting machine are used for the front. There is a description that it is preferable to center cut the conductive fiber after alternately knitting the needle and back needle into a fixed length. In Patent Document 4, there is a description that the conductive layer is arranged on the front side of the base fabric, but it is unclear whether or not the conductive layer is arranged on the back side of the base fabric.

JP 2012-090880 A JP 2013-063186 A JP 2000-312002 A JP 2013-019064 A

  As described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in EIT, since the electrode plate is adhered to the body at a predetermined interval, the work of attaching or peeling the electrode plate to the body is complicated. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for belts using fabrics with fiber electrodes. However, the structures described in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 have a problem in that wiring is complicated when an electrical signal is extracted from three or more electrodes.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a fabric with a fiber electrode, which can be used for a belt for taking out a biological signal and can easily take out a bioelectric signal from three or more electrodes, and the fabric with a fiber electrode. An object of the present invention is to provide a belt for measuring electrical impedance used.

  The fabric with a fiber electrode of the present invention is a fabric used for a belt for taking out a biological signal, and is composed of a base fabric made of a non-conductive fiber yarn and a belt-like electrode made of a conductive fiber yarn, Three or more electrodes are formed at a predetermined interval, and the belt-like electrode is formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric.

  According to the present invention, three or more band-like electrodes are formed at a predetermined interval and are formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric. It becomes cloth with electrodes.

  The base fabric and the strip electrode are knitted or woven. More specifically, the base fabric and the belt-like electrode are knitted with a crochet warp knitting machine, the structure knitted with a Russell warp knitting machine, or knitted with a tricot warp knitting machine. And a configuration woven with a needle loom.

The present invention is characterized in that the base fabric and the strip electrode are formed by double raschel knitting.

  According to the present invention, by maintaining the stretchability in the course direction by double raschel knitting, the front side fabric and the back side fabric are connected by a tissue to increase the thickness of the fabric, so that the band-shaped electrode adheres to the body It becomes the structure where it is easy to improve the property.

  The present invention is characterized in that the base fabric is configured to extend in the wale direction and the strip electrode is configured not to extend in the wale direction.

  The present invention is configured such that when the base fabric moves from the front side loop to the back side loop, the yarn of the nonconductive fiber is displaced in the wale direction from the opposite side, thereby extending in the wale direction. And, when the belt-like electrode moves from the front side loop to the back side loop, the conductive fiber yarn moves to the opposite side so that it does not extend in the wale direction. .

  According to the present invention, since the base fabric is configured to extend in the wale direction, the entire fabric is configured to maintain the stretchability in the wale direction and the strip electrode does not extend in the wale direction. Therefore, the variation of the electrical impedance of the strip electrode is suppressed.

  Here, the course means a series in which the stitches (loops) advance in the vertical direction by warp knitting, and the wale means a series in which the stitches (loops) advance in the horizontal direction by warp knitting.

  Examples of the non-conductive fiber thread include synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, rayon, and acrylic, and threads made of natural fibers such as cotton and linen. Since it is assumed that autoclave sterilization is performed in the medical field, these fibers having high resistance to autoclave sterilization are preferable.

  Examples of the yarn of the non-conductive fiber include a yarn obtained by covering a synthetic fiber, natural fiber, or a yarn provided with various properties such as antibacterial performance and deodorizing performance with polyurethane as a core. By using polyurethane as a core, it is possible to provide elastic elasticity excellent in the wale direction.

  Examples of the conductive fiber yarn include yarn made of silver, gold, copper, aluminum, carbon, or the like. More specifically, a fiber in which a metal such as silver, gold, or aluminum is plated on the surface of a synthetic fiber such as nylon, polyester, rayon, or acrylic is used. From the viewpoint of increasing the surface area and increasing the contact property, the conductive fiber yarn is preferably subjected to Woolley processing. The conductive fiber yarn is preferably a filament silver yarn from the viewpoint of stabilizing the contact resistance so as not to extend in the wale direction.

  In the present invention, the conductive fiber yarn is a nylon yarn silver-plated yarn, a nylon yarn silver-plated yarn-processed yarn, a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together, a plurality of conductive metals It is characterized by comprising at least one of yarns covered by covering with twisted fibers. In other words, according to the present invention, as the conductive fiber yarn, nylon yarn silver-plated yarn, nylon yarn silver-plated yarn-processed yarn, a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together, It is characterized by using a yarn made of any one or more of yarns covered with a conductive metal fiber twisted together.

  According to the present invention, for example, when nylon yarn is silver-plated, high conductivity and excellent flexibility can be obtained, and a fabric that can withstand autoclave sterilization treatment at a medical site is obtained. Further, for example, by using a wooly processed yarn, the surface area is increased to obtain a fabric having improved contact. For example, a yarn in which a plurality of conductive metal fibers are twisted together or a yarn in which a plurality of conductive metal fibers are twisted together and covered may be used.

  The present invention is characterized in that the total thickness is 2.5 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

  According to the present invention, it becomes easy to suppress the electrical impedance of the strip electrode to a low value. That is, by setting the overall thickness to 2.5 mm or more, the density of the strip-like electrode is increased to a certain level or more, and the electrical impedance is suppressed to a low value. Further, by setting the overall thickness to 15 mm or less, the conductive length of the strip electrode is reduced to a certain level, and the electrical impedance is suppressed to a low value.

  The method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode according to the present invention is a method for producing a fabric used for a belt for taking out a biological signal, and is a base fabric made of non-conductive fiber yarns and a belt-like shape made of conductive fiber yarns. The electrodes are knitted or woven to form three or more belt-like electrodes at predetermined intervals, and the belt-like electrodes are formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric.

  According to the present invention, by knitting or weaving a base fabric made of non-conductive fiber yarns and a strip electrode made of conductive fiber yarns, The strip electrode can be integrally formed.

The present invention is characterized in that the base fabric and the strip electrode are formed by double raschel knitting.

  According to the present invention, with double raschel knitting, the thickness of the fabric can be increased by connecting the front fabric and the back fabric with a tissue while maintaining the elasticity in the course direction, and the band-like electrode to the body can be increased. It becomes easy to improve adhesion.

  In the present invention, when the base fabric moves from the front side loop to the back side loop, the yarn of the nonconductive fiber is shifted in the wale direction from the opposite side to extend in the wale direction. Is characterized in that when moving from the front side loop to the back side loop, the yarn of the conductive fiber is moved to the opposite side so as not to extend in the wale direction.

  According to the present invention, the electrical impedance of the belt-like electrode is stabilized while maintaining the stretchability in the wale direction in the entire fabric.

  The electric impedance measuring belt of the present invention is configured such that the fabric with a fiber electrode is cut into a predetermined width and is wound around a body in order to take out a biological signal from three or more strip electrodes arranged at a predetermined interval. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, an electric impedance measuring belt having a structure in which it is easy to extract bioelectric signals from three or more strip electrodes arranged at predetermined intervals.

  According to the fabric with a fiber electrode of the present invention, three or more band-like electrodes are formed at a predetermined interval and are formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric, so that a bioelectric signal can be taken out. It becomes a fabric with an easily structured fiber electrode. According to the present invention, by maintaining the stretchability in the course direction by double raschel knitting, the front side fabric and the back side fabric are connected by a tissue to increase the thickness of the fabric, so that the band-shaped electrode adheres to the body It becomes the structure where it is easy to improve the property. According to the present invention, since the base fabric is configured to extend in the wale direction, the belt-like electrode does not extend in the wale direction while maintaining the stretchability in the wale direction in the entire fabric. Therefore, it becomes the structure which suppressed the fluctuation | variation of the electrical impedance of the said strip | belt-shaped electrode. According to the present invention, the dough can withstand autoclave sterilization treatment at a medical site, and the dough has a large surface area and improved contact.

  According to the method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode of the present invention, the base fabric and the strip electrode can be integrally formed with a knitting machine or a loom. And according to this invention, it becomes an electric impedance measuring belt of a structure where it is easy to take out a bioelectric signal from the strip | belt-shaped electrode distribute | arranged 3 or more by predetermined spacing.

It is a front view which shows the textile fabric with a fiber electrode of embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the textile fabric with a fiber electrode of the said embodiment. It is a structural diagram which shows the structure | tissue structure of the fabric with a fiber electrode of the said embodiment in three dimensions. It is an arrangement plan which shows each organization of textiles with a fiber electrode of the above-mentioned embodiment individually. It is a figure which shows the belt for an electrical impedance measurement of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the belt for an electrical impedance measurement of the said embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Fabric with electrode)
Drawing 1 is a front view showing cloth 1 with a fiber electrode of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the fabric electrode-provided fabric 1 of the present embodiment. The fabric 1 with a fiber electrode according to the present embodiment includes a base fabric 2 made of non-conductive fiber yarns and a strip electrode 3 made of conductive fiber yarns. A plurality of strip electrodes 3 are formed at a predetermined interval, and the strip electrodes 3 are formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in the front view (front side) and the back view (back side), the fabric electrode-attached fabric 1 of the present embodiment has a one-to-one correspondence between the strip electrodes 3 on the front side and the back side (FIGS. 1 and 2). .

  In the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fabric 1 with a fiber electrode has a band shape, which is obtained by cutting a long fabric knitted by a knitting machine. In this embodiment, the base fabric 2 and the strip electrode 3 are formed by double raschel knitting. The reference sign W1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is the wale direction, and the reference sign C1 is the course direction. In the present embodiment, the base fabric 2 is configured to extend in the wale direction (reference numeral W1), and the strip electrode 3 is configured not to extend in the wale direction (reference numeral W1).

  FIG. 3 is a structural diagram three-dimensionally showing the tissue structure of the fabric electrode-attached fabric 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a layout diagram individually showing each structure of the fabric 1 with fiber electrode of the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the symbol L <b> 3 is a non-conductive fiber yarn, and more specifically, a yarn L <b> 3 made of polyester. Reference numerals L2, L7, and L6 are wooly processed yarns of conductive fibers, and more specifically, yarns in which silver fibers are covered with nylon. Reference numerals L1 and L8 are filament yarns of conductive fibers, and more specifically, yarns obtained by silver-plating nylon. The code | symbol B shown in FIG. 4 has shown the back side, and the code | symbol F has shown the front side.

  The belt-like electrode 3 has a front side fabric knitted with a front side knitting needle, and uses a filament yarn L1 in which nylon is silver-plated in order to prevent elongation in the wale direction W1, and also increases the cushioning property by increasing the thickness direction. A yarn L2 in which silver fiber is covered with nylon is used (FIG. 3).

  In the strip electrode 3, the back side fabric is knitted with a back side knitting needle, and a yarn L7 in which silver fiber is covered with nylon is used to increase the thickness direction and increase cushioning properties, and also prevents the extension in the wale direction W1. Therefore, the filament yarn L8 in which nylon is silver-plated is used (FIG. 3).

  The band-like electrode 3 uses a yarn L6 in which the joining structure is knitted alternately on the front side and the back side, and the thickness direction is thick and the cushioning property is increased to cover nylon with silver fibers (FIG. 3). The yarn L6 applies the yarn to the back side knitting needle located on the opposite side of the front side knitting needle. This is because the strip electrode 3 does not extend in the wale direction.

  The base fabric 2 is knitted alternately on the front side and the back side using the polyester yarn L3. At this time, unlike the silver yarn L6, the back side knitting needle located on the opposite side of the front side knitting needle is used. By applying the yarn to the adjacent back side knitting needle, the polyester yarn L3 is moved in the wale direction when moving from the front side loop to the back side loop. Accordingly, the base fabric 2 is configured to extend in the wale direction.

  The fabric electrode-equipped fabric 1 of the present embodiment is knitted with a double raschel machine, finished with a soaping set machine, and then cut into a specified length (EIT belt width size) for use.

  According to the fabric electrode-equipped fabric 1 of the present embodiment, three or more strip electrodes 3 are formed at a predetermined interval and are formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric 2, so that a bioelectric signal is taken out. It becomes a fabric with a fiber electrode having an easy structure. And by maintaining the stretchability in the course direction C1 by double raschel knitting, the fabric on the front side and the back side fabric are connected and connected with the tissue to increase the thickness of the fabric, thereby increasing the adhesion of the band-like electrode to the body. And the base fabric 2 is configured to extend in the wale direction W1, so that the entire fabric does not extend in the wale direction while maintaining the stretchability in the wale direction. Therefore, the variation of the electrical impedance of the strip electrode is suppressed. According to the present embodiment, the dough can withstand autoclave sterilization treatment at a medical site, and the dough has a surface area increased to improve contact.

(Electric impedance measurement belt)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the electric impedance measuring belt 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical impedance measuring belt 10 of the present embodiment. In the electric impedance measuring belt 10 of the present embodiment, an electrode plate 6 for exchanging electrical signals with the belt-like electrode 3 is arranged on the back side of the fabric 1 with fiber electrode, and the fabric 1 with fiber electrode is arranged. A connector 5 for exchanging electrical signals with the electrode plate 6 is disposed at the end, and the fabric electrode-attached fabric 1 and the electrode plate 6 are inserted into the stretchable surface fastener 4. Window portions are formed on the body-side surface of the surface fastener 4 at predetermined intervals, and the strip electrode 3 is exposed from the window portion (FIG. 5).

  For example, the electric impedance measuring belt 10 is wound around the chest of the body, worn on the body with the hook-and-loop fastener 4, and a weak current flows inside the body, and the resistance value varies depending on the amount of air in the lungs. Then, the voltage difference resulting from the difference in the resistance value is measured. This measured signal is computer processed to display an electrical impedance tomogram.

  In the above description, it has been described with double raschel knitting, but the present invention is not limited to this, a configuration knitted with a crochet warp knitting machine, a configuration knitted with a tricot warp knitting machine, It can be set as the structure woven by the needle loom. In addition to polyester, the non-conductive fiber thread may be synthetic fiber such as nylon, rayon, or acrylic. Examples of the conductive fiber yarn include yarn made of gold, copper, aluminum, carbon, etc. in addition to silver. Thus, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 Fabric with fiber electrode of the present invention,
2 base fabric,
3 strip electrode,
W1 Wale direction, C1 course direction,
L3 Non-conductive fiber thread,
L2, L6, L7 Conductive fiber thread (Wooled thread of conductive fiber),
L1, L8 Conductive fiber yarn (conductive fiber filament yarn),
10. Belt for measuring electrical impedance according to the present invention

Claims (12)

  A cloth used for a belt for taking out a biological signal, comprising a base cloth made of non-conductive fiber yarns and a belt-like electrode made of conductive fiber yarns, wherein three or more belt-like electrodes are formed at predetermined intervals. A fabric with a fiber electrode, wherein the belt-like electrode is formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric.   The fabric with a fiber electrode according to claim 1, wherein the base fabric and the belt-like electrode are formed by double raschel knitting.   The fabric with a fiber electrode according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base fabric is configured to extend in the wale direction, and the strip electrode is configured not to extend in the wale direction.   When the base fabric moves from the front side loop to the back side loop, the yarn of the non-conductive fibers is configured to extend in the wale direction by shifting in the wale direction from the opposite side, and The belt-like electrode is configured not to extend in the wale direction when the conductive fiber yarn moves to the opposite side when moving from the front side loop to the back side loop. The fabric with a fiber electrode according to any one of 3.   The conductive fiber yarn is a nylon yarn silver-plated yarn, a nylon yarn silver-plated wooly-processed yarn, a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together, and a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together. 5. The fabric with a fiber electrode according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is made of any one or more of covered yarns.   The fabric with a fiber electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the total thickness is 2.5 mm or more and 15 mm or less.   A method for producing a fabric used for a belt for taking out a biological signal, wherein a base fabric made of non-conductive fiber yarns and a belt-like electrode made of conductive fiber yarns are knitted or woven, A method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode, wherein three or more electrodes are formed at a predetermined interval, and the belt-like electrode is formed from the front side to the back side of the base fabric.   The method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode according to claim 7, wherein the base fabric and the strip electrode are formed by double raschel knitting.   When the base fabric moves from the front loop to the back loop, the yarn of the non-conductive fiber is extended in the wale direction by shifting the yarn of the non-conductive fiber in the wale direction from the opposite side. The method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the conductive fiber yarn is moved to the opposite side when moving from the back side to the back side loop so as not to extend in the wale direction. .   As the conductive fiber yarn, nylon yarn silver-plated yarn, nylon yarn silver-plated wooly-processed yarn, a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together, and a plurality of conductive metal fibers twisted together. The method for producing a fabric with a fiber electrode according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a yarn comprising at least one of the covered yarns is used.   A structure in which the fabric with a fiber electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used after being cut at a predetermined width, and wound around a body in order to extract a biological signal from three or more strip electrodes arranged at a predetermined interval. A belt for measuring electrical impedance, characterized in that   A fabric with a fiber electrode produced by the method for producing a fabric with a fabric electrode according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the fabric with a fabric electrode is cut into a predetermined width and used, and three or more strip electrodes are arranged at a predetermined interval. A belt for measuring electrical impedance, characterized in that it is wound around the body in order to extract a biological signal.

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