JP6933365B2 - Electrode body, its formation method and clothing - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode body, a method for forming the electrode body, and clothing, and more particularly to an electrode body for a clothing type wearable device.

In recent years, sensor devices that can be worn on the human body have been attracting attention, and it is expected that clothing-type wearable devices that can acquire vital signs will lead the new electronics market. In particular, since a wearable device capable of measuring electrocardiogram is a simple measurement method that can be measured simply by attaching an electrode to the skin, various forms of wearable electrocardiographic wear have already been researched and developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-70917

However, since the vital signs of wearable devices are weak electrical signals, motion artifacts (noise due to body movement and signal voltage fluctuations) caused by changes in the contact pressure between the electrodes and the skin and wiring noise due to expansion and contraction of the wiring Therefore, there is a problem that the measurement tends to be unstable.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrode body and clothing capable of stably obtaining vital signs, and a method for forming the electrode body.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a flexible convex body provided on the surface of a stretchable sheet body and a plurality of convex bodies provided on the surface of the convex body and extending at least outward from the surface. An electrode body including an electrode part having conductive fibers, a circuit part having an amplification circuit arranged inside the convex body, and a connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode part and the circuit part. Provided.

According to the above aspect, the electrode body has an electrode portion having a convex body having flexibility and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending outward on the surface of the convex body. The skin of the subject can be contacted with a constant contact pressure, and motion artifacts can be reduced even if the subject moves. Furthermore, since the amplifier circuit is arranged inside the convex body, it is close to the electrode portion, and it is good because it can suppress the mixing of noise from the outside and reduce the attenuation of weak biological signals for amplification. A signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the method of forming an electrode body, a step of fixing a circuit portion in which an amplifier circuit is arranged on one surface of a sheet body and a sealing portion covering the circuit portion are provided. A step of forming, a step of forming an adhesive layer on the outer surface of the sealing portion, a step of implanting a plurality of conductive fibers on the adhesive layer and exposing the surface to form an electrode portion, and the electrode. The method is provided, comprising the step of electrically connecting the unit and the circuit unit.

According to the above aspect, the convex sealing portion covering the circuit portion in which the amplification circuit is arranged, the electrode portion having conductive fibers extending outward on the surface of the sealing portion, and the electrode portion and the circuit portion are electrically connected. An electrode body 10 having a wiring portion to be specifically connected can be formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrode body provided on the clothing and receiving a signal from the measurement target is electrically connected to the output portion of the electrode body to transmit the output signal. A wiring unit and a communication unit connected to the wiring unit and transmitting the output signal are provided, and the electrode body is a flexible convex provided on the surface of the cloth of the garment on the measurement target side. An electrode portion provided on the surface of the convex body and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending at least outward from the surface, and a circuit portion having an amplification circuit arranged inside the convex body. The garment is provided, which has a connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion.

According to the above aspect, the electrode body provided with the cloth of the garment has a convex shape toward the measurement target, the convex body has flexibility, and a plurality of electrodes extending outward on the surface of the convex body. Since it has an electrode portion having conductive fibers of the above, it is possible to contact the skin of the subject with a constant contact pressure, and even if the subject moves, motion artifacts can be reduced. Furthermore, since the amplifier circuit is arranged inside the convex body, it is close to the electrode portion, and it is good because it can suppress the mixing of noise from the outside and reduce the attenuation of weak biological signals for amplification. A signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained. Therefore, even if the wiring portion of clothing picks up noise from the outside, a sufficient SN ratio can be secured and accurate measurement becomes possible.

It is sectional drawing which shows the outline structure of the electrode body which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view and the cross-sectional view which shows the circuit part which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the use state of the electrode body which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the formation method of the electrode body which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a formation process diagram (the 1) of the electrode body which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a process diagram (No. 2) for forming an electrode body according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline structure of the clothing which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to a plurality of drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repetition of detailed description of the elements will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electrode body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the electrode body 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a base material 11 made of a stretchable sheet body and a flexible convex shape provided on the surface of the base material 11. It has a main body portion 12, an electrode portion 20 provided on the outer surface of the main body portion 12 and having a plurality of conductive fibers 13 extending at least outward from the surface, and an amplifier circuit 34 arranged in the main body portion 12. The circuit unit 30 includes a wiring unit 40 that electrically connects the electrode unit 20 and the circuit unit 30. When the conductive fibers 13 of the electrode portion 20 provided on the surface of the convex main body portion 12 come into contact with the living body of the subject, for example, a vital sign, for example, a biological signal such as an electrocardiographic signal is transmitted to the electrode portion 20. Receives and sends the signal to the amplifier circuit 34 of the circuit unit 30 via the wiring unit 40, and the amplifier circuit 34 amplifies the biological signal. The size of the electrode body 10 is not particularly limited when viewed in a plan view, but is, for example, 2 cm to 10 cm in length and width.

The base material 11 is not particularly limited as long as it is a stretchable sheet body, and is, for example, a woven fabric made of synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester, a sheet made of a thermosetting resin-based elastomer such as urethane, and synthetic rubber such as butyl rubber. A sheet, a sheet made of a synthetic polymer compound such as silicone, or the like can be used.

The main body portion 12 is convex with respect to the base material 11, and has, for example, a quadrangular shape, an elliptical shape, or a perfect circle shape in a plan view. The main body portion 12 includes a sealing portion 14 and a circuit portion 30. The sealing portion 14 is formed so as to cover and seal the circuit portion 30. The sealing portion 14 is, for example, a solidified resin and has flexibility. It is preferable to use liquid silicone rubber, for example, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or the like for the sealing portion 14.

The electrode portion 20 has a resin layer 21 that covers the surface of the main body portion 12, and a plurality of conductive fibers in which one tip is inserted and held in the resin layer 21 and the other portion is exposed from the resin layer 21 and comes into contact with each other. It consists of 13.

The resin layer 21 is a layer made of an adhesive capable of having conductive fibers 13 in the above-mentioned form on the surface of the main body 12, and for example, a silylated urethane-based elastic adhesive, an emulsion-based adhesive such as an acrylic emulsion, or the like is used. be able to. The resin layer 21 may be a conductive material or an insulating material. The resin layer 21 is preferably made of a material having high adhesiveness to the main body 12, and is preferably an insulating material rather than a conductive material in that a wide range of material selections can be made.

As the conductive fiber 13, for example, carbon nanofibers, metal fibers, chemical fibers coated with a conductive polymer, metal fibers or chemical fibers on which a metal plating film is formed can be used. As the metal material of the metal plating film, a highly conductive metal such as copper, silver, or gold can be used. The wire diameter and fiber length of the conductive fiber 13 can be appropriately selected. The conductive fiber 13 has a wire diameter, for example, in consideration of the conductivity of the electrode portion 20, the followability to the deformation of the electrode body 10, the flexibility and comfort when the conductive fiber 13 is brought into contact with the body as a bioelectrode, and the like. It is preferable that the textile is a short fiber having a needle-like body having a fiber length of 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. The number of conductive fibers 13 per unit area and the surface of the main body 12 are adjusted according to the wire diameter and fiber length so that the conductive fibers 13 can stably function as electrodes against expansion and contraction and deformation required for the electrode body 10. The angle is set.

It is preferable that the conductive fibers 13 are arranged so as to cover the entire surface of the main body portion 12 in that the biological back signal of the subject can be satisfactorily received. However, the conductive fibers 13 may cover almost the entire surface or a part of the surface of the main body 12 as long as the conduction with each other can be ensured. The conductive fibers 13 may have a lattice-like shape on the surface of the main body 12, for example. When the main body 12 is circular when viewed in a plan view, the conductive fibers 13 may be spiral, for example, in a radial direction in which concentric annular conductive fibers 13 and them are electrically connected to each other. A pattern may be used in combination with conductive fibers 13.

The circuit unit 30 includes an amplifier circuit 34 having an IC chip 31 with a built-in differential amplifier, a flexible substrate 33 on which a resistance element and a passive element 32 such as a capacitor are mounted, electrode pads 37 and 38, and a flexible substrate 33. It has a flexible wiring 36 for connecting the electrodes pads 37 and 38.

The circuit unit 30 may further have a sensor (not shown) as a modification. The sensor may be mounted on the flexible substrate 33 in the same manner as the IC chip 31, for example. The sensor is, for example, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like. Since the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor can detect the movement and posture of the electrode body 10, the movement and posture of the subject wearing the clothes having the electrode body 10 can be detected. Further, since the pressure sensor can detect the contact pressure between the electrode body 10 and the test object, the pressure sensor detects the degree of contact of the electrode body 10 with the living body of the subject, and the living body received by the electrode unit 20. It can be used to determine if the noise of a signal (eg, an electrocardiogram) is due to a motion artifact. The sensor is preferably a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensor in that it is small (a size of several millimeters square) and lightweight.

2A and 2B are views showing a circuit unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the flexible substrate 33 on which the IC chip 31 or the like is mounted is provided with a film body 35 on the lower surface (base material 11 side), and the film body 35 is a base material. It is not adhered to 11. As a result, since the flexible substrate 33 has flexibility, it can be deformed even when stress is applied from the outside, so that the stress can be relaxed. As the flexible substrate 33, for example, a polyimide film or a polyimide thin plate having copper foils formed on both sides can be used.

The electrode pads 37 and 38 are formed of a flexible material, and the lower surface thereof is adhered to the base material 11. The terminals 37a and 38a provided on the lower surfaces of the electrode pads 37 and 38 are adhered with a conductive paste or the like, and are electrically connected to the through wirings 45 and 46 of the base material 11.

The flexible wiring 36 has a base material made of a flexible insulating material and a wiring film (not shown) inside or on the surface thereof, and one end 36a of the wiring film is connected to terminals 37b and 38b of the electrode pads 37 and 38. It is electrically connected by a conductive member such as a conductive paste or solder, and the other end 36b is electrically connected in the same manner as the terminal 33a of the flexible substrate 33. The flexible wiring 36 is not fixed to the base material 11 and is elastically deformable.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible wiring 36 has a shape in which a "U" shape is combined, but the shape is not limited to this shape, and the flexible wiring 36 may have a zigzag shape. As a result, the flexible wiring 36 is structurally flexible. Further, the flexible wiring 36 may have a thin band shape if the material itself is sufficiently flexible.

As described above, in the flexible wiring 36, one end 36a is fixed to the terminals 37b and 38b of the electrode pads 37 and 38 fixed to the base material 11, and the other end 36b is fixed to the terminal 33a of the flexible substrate 33. Therefore, the flexible substrate 33 is elastically supported by the electrode pads 37 and 38 and the flexible wiring 36. As a result, even if stress is applied to the electrode body 10 in various directions, the stress applied to the IC chip 31 and the passive element 32 can be relaxed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the wiring unit 40 electrically connects the electrode unit 20 and the circuit unit 30. The wiring portion 40 penetrates the wiring 41 extending from the electrode portion 20 to the surface of the base material 11, the wirings 42 and 43 extending on the surface of the base material 11 opposite to the electrode portion 20, and the base material 11. It has through wirings 44 to 46.

The wirings 41 to 43 may be in a form in which one end of the conductive fibers 13 is held by the resin layer 21 and the other ends are in contact with each other to have conductivity, as in the case of the electrode portion 20 described above. As the material, thin plates made of metal such as platinum, gold, and silver, carbon fiber, metal fiber, synthetic resin fiber, and the like can be used. Further, the wirings 41 to 43 may have the form of the flexible wiring 36 described above. As a result, since the wirings 41 to 43 are structurally flexible, they can follow the expansion and contraction of the base material 11 and have flexibility.

Each of the wirings 41 to 43 has a protective film 48 having an electrically insulating property on the surface thereof. The protective film 48 can be appropriately selected as long as it can be adhered to the base material 11 and the above-mentioned conductive material and is an insulating material. For example, an insulating sheet of urethane-based elastic material, butyl rubber-based material, silicone-based material, or Adhesives can be used.

The through wirings 44 to 46 are provided with a conductor in the through holes formed in the base material 11, and may be filled with a conductive paste, or a thin metal plate or a metal rod may be used, for example. The through wiring 44 electrically connects the wiring 41 and the wiring 42. The through wiring 45 electrically connects the wiring 42 and the circuit unit 30, and functions as a signal input unit of the circuit unit 30. The through wiring 45 electrically connects the circuit unit 30 and the wiring 43, functions as an output unit of the output signal of the amplifier circuit 34 of the circuit unit 30, and also functions as an input unit of the electric power supplied from the wiring 43.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state of the electrode body according to the embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, in the electrode body 10, the conductive fibers 13 of the electrode portion 20 come into contact with the living body of the subject due to the weight of the living body, the weight of the electrode body 10, or the like, and the biological signal of the subject is transmitted to the electrode portion. Flow to 20. The biological signal flows from the electrode unit 20 through the wiring 41, the through wiring 44, the wiring 42, and the through wiring 45 in this order, and is supplied to the circuit unit 30. The biological signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 34 of the circuit unit 30, and flows through the through wiring 46 and the wiring 43, which are the output units of the amplifier circuit 34 of the circuit unit 30, and is output. Since the path from the electrode unit 20 to the circuit unit 30 is short, it is possible to suppress the mixing of noise from the outside, reduce the attenuation of the biological signal, and improve the SN ratio of the biological signal. Further, in the modified example in which the circuit unit 30 has a sensor (not shown), when the sensor includes a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor detects the degree of contact of the subject with the living body and outputs it from the through wiring 46. Therefore, it can be used to determine whether the noise of the biological signal (for example, the electrocardiogram) received by the electrode unit 20 is caused by the motion artifact.

According to the present embodiment, the electrode body 10 has a convex sealing portion 14 of the main body portion 12 having flexibility, and has a plurality of conductive fibers 13 extending outward on the surface of the main body portion 12. Since the electrode portion 20 is provided, the skin of the subject can be contacted with a constant contact pressure, and motion artifacts can be reduced even if the subject moves. Further, since the amplifier circuit 34 is provided in the vicinity of the electrode portion 20, it is possible to suppress the mixing of noise from the outside and reduce the attenuation of the weak biological signal for amplification, so that a signal having a good SN ratio can be obtained. can get. Further, since the amplifier circuit 34 is mounted on the flexible substrate 33 and these are elastically supported by the flexible wiring 36, the stress applied to the amplifier circuit 34 can be relaxed even if the stress applied to the electrode body 10 becomes excessive.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of forming an electrode body according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 and 6 are process diagrams of forming an electrode body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a method for forming the electrode body will be described in one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

First, the circuit portion 30 in which the amplifier circuit is arranged is fixed to one surface of the base material 11 which is a sheet body (S100). In step S100, as shown in FIG. 5A, holes 44a to 46a penetrating the base material 11 which is a sheet body are formed, and the holes are filled with, for example, a conductive paste, and the through wirings 44 to 44 to Form 46.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the electrode pads 37 and 38 of the circuit unit 30 are fixed to the through wirings 45 and 46, respectively, using a conductive adhesive, for example, and electrically connected. The lower surfaces of the electrode pads 37 and 38 are also fixed to the base material 11. The amplifier circuit 34 of the circuit unit 30 has the structure shown in FIG. 2, and the IC chip 31 and the passive element 32 are mounted on the flexible substrate 33 in advance, and the flexible wiring 36 is connected to the flexible substrate 33. Further, the electrode pads 37 and 38 are connected.

Next, a sealing portion 14 that covers the circuit portion 30 is formed (S110). In step S110, as shown in FIG. 5C, the mold 51 is formed so as to surround the circuit portion 30. At that time, the film body 35 is attached to the lower surface (base material 11 side) of the flexible substrate 33, and the other surface of the film body 35 is adhered to the base material 11. The adhesive strength is such that after the sealing portion 14 is formed, the base material 11 is stressed, for example, a tensile stress is applied in the longitudinal direction of the base material 11 to remove the adhesive. As a result, the resin 14a serving as a sealing portion is prevented from entering between the circuit portion 30 and the base material 11. As a result, the circuit portion 30 and the base material 11 can be prevented from being adhered by the resin 14a of the sealing portion. The circuit unit 30 may have a sensor (not shown) as in the above-described modification.

Further, the resin 14a is injected into the mold so as to cover the circuit portion 30 and cured by drying or the like. The resin 14a is preferably a resin having flexibility after being cured, and for example, liquid silicone rubber, for example, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or the like is preferably used. As a result, the circuit portion 30, particularly the flexible substrate 33 and the flexible wiring 36 are covered with the resin 14a of the sealing portion, but the material of the sealing portion 14 has good flexibility even after the resin 14a is cured. Therefore, a flexible structure can be formed in combination with the flexibility of the flexible substrate 33 and the flexible wiring 36.

Next, after the resin 14a is cured, an adhesive layer 21a is formed on the surface of the sealing portion 14 (S120). In step S120, as shown in FIG. 5D, the mold 51 is removed, and an adhesive for forming a resin layer is applied to the surface of the sealing portion 14 to form the adhesive layer 21a. A mask may be used for patterning the area to be applied. In order to suppress the bleeding of the adhesive to the base material 11, the viscosity is preferably set to, for example, 10 to 400 Pa · s. The thickness of the adhesive layer 21a is preferably 10 to 1000 μm, for example, from the viewpoint that conductive fibers can be easily planted. A screen printing method, a stencil printing method, a dispensing method, a spray coating method, an inkjet method, or the like can be used to form the adhesive layer 21a. After the resin 14a is cured, for example, in S120, a stress may be applied to the base material 11, for example, a tensile stress in the longitudinal direction of the base material 11 to remove the adhesion between the film body 35 and the base material 11. As a result, the film body 35, that is, the amplifier circuit 34 is not interlocked with the movement such as expansion and contraction of the base material 11, and the stress applied to the amplifier circuit can be relaxed.

In this step S120, an adhesive may be similarly applied to the surface of the base material 11 to form the adhesive layer 21a in the region 41a forming the wiring 41 shown in FIG. 1 by the method described above.

Next, a plurality of conductive fibers 13 are flocked on the adhesive layer 21a and exposed on the surface thereof to form the electrode portion 20 (S130). In step S130, as shown in FIG. 6A, the conductive fibers 13 are flocked on the adhesive layer 21a. As a method for flocking hair, an electrostatic spray method, a spray coating method, an electrostatic flocking method and the like can be used. When the electrostatic spray method is used, the adhesive layer 21a attaches the conductive fibers 13 charged from the electrostatic spray gun (not shown) in which the base material 11 is placed on an electrode (not shown) having a ground potential and a voltage is applied. Spray onto the formed sealing portion 14 and substrate 11. One end of the conductive fiber 13 is inserted at an angle with respect to the adhesive layer 21a by the force acting by the formed electric field and the injection of the electrostatic spray gun. As a result, one end of the conductive fiber 13 is inserted into the adhesive layer 21a, and the other end is exposed from the adhesive layer 21a. For flocking on the side surface of the sealing portion 14, for example, the size and shape of the electrode of the ground potential can be appropriately selected, and the substrate 11 can be tilted to adjust the angle of incidence of the conductive fiber 13 on the adhesive layer 21a. You may adjust.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the adhesive layer 21a is dried or cured to form the resin layer 21. One end of the conductive fiber 13 is held by the resin layer 21, the other end is exposed from the resin layer 21 and comes into contact with each other, and the conductive fiber 13 is an electrode having conductivity along the surface direction of the resin layer 21. The portion 20 and the conductive portion 41b of the wiring are formed. The electrode portion 20 is a portion of conductive fibers planted on the upper surface and the side surface of the sealing portion. The conductive portion 41b of the wiring is a portion formed on the surface of the base material 11 and is conductive with the electrode portion 20.

Conductive portions 42b and 43b of the wiring are also formed on the opposite surface of the base material 11 in the same manner as in S120 and S130.

Next, the electrode unit 20 and the circuit unit 30 are electrically connected (S140). In step S140, as shown in FIG. 6C, the through wires 44 to 46 and the conductive portions 41b to 43b of the wiring are electrically connected. As a result, the wiring from the electrode portion 20 to the circuit portion 30 is formed. In this connection, the conductive fibers 13 and the resin layer 21 are melted by frictional heat due to ultrasonic vibration by ultrasonic melting, and the conductive fibers 13 and the through wires 44 to 46 are brought into contact with each other. The ultrasonic melting is performed by placing the base material 11 on the stage 60 and appropriately selecting the shape, frequency, and input energy of the horn 61 to be brought into contact with the base material 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6D, an electrically insulating protective film 48 is formed on the conductive fibers in the portion to be wired. The protective film 48 is formed by crimping an insulating sheet or applying an insulating paste and drying it. As the protective film 48, urethane elastomers, silicone resins, and butyl rubber-based materials having high elasticity and flexibility are preferable. As a result, the wirings 41 to 43 are formed.

According to the method for forming the electrode body 10 according to the present embodiment, the convex sealing portion 14 that covers the circuit portion 30, the electrode portion 20 having the conductive fibers 13 extending outward on the surface of the sealing portion 14, and the electrode portion 20. An electrode body 10 having a wiring portion 40 that electrically connects the electrode portion 20 and the circuit portion 30 can be formed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of clothing according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 7, the clothing 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is electrically connected to the cloth 101 with the electrode body 10 and the through wiring 46 which is the output portion of the electrode body 10 to transmit an output signal. A communication unit 110 that is connected to the wiring unit 102 and transmits an output signal is provided. The electrode body 10 is the same as the electrode body 10 according to the embodiment shown above, and is, for example, the electrode body 10 shown in FIG. The main body portion 12 and the electrode portion 20 shown in FIG. 1 are provided on the surface of the cloth 100 of the clothing shown in FIG. 7 on the living body side of the subject.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the clothes 100 have the characteristics of the electrode body 10 described above in a state of being worn by the subject, so that the electrode portion 20 is satisfactorily stabilized in the living body of the subject. The electrode unit 20 receives the biological signal from the living body, amplifies it in the circuit unit 30, and sends it from the through wiring 46, which is the output unit of the electrode body 10, to the communication unit 110 via the wiring unit 102 for communication. The biological signal processed by the unit 110 is wirelessly transmitted to the measuring / analyzing device 200 provided independently of the clothing.

The garment 100 is, for example, a T-shirt, and the fabric 101 can be any flexible and stretchable material. The fabric 101 is preferably made of nylon or polyester.

As the electrode body 10, the electrode body 10 formed on the base material 11 in advance as shown in FIG. 1 may be sewn to the cloth 101 of the garment 100 like a patch, or the electrode body 10 may be directly formed on the cloth 101. good.

The wiring unit 102 includes a wiring layer 103 and a protective film 104 that electrically insulates the wiring layer 103. The wiring layer 103 may be formed of the same flocked conductive fibers as the electrode portion 20 shown in FIG. The protective film 104 is not particularly limited, but the same material as the protective film 48 of the electrode body 10 of the above embodiment may be used. The wiring unit 102 transmits a signal from the electrode body 10 and transmits electric power from the battery 113. When the circuit unit 30 of the above-described modified example has a sensor, the wiring unit 102 may be configured to transmit a signal or data from the sensor.

The communication unit 110 includes a signal processing unit 111, a wireless module 112, and a battery 113. The signal processing unit 111 processes the biological signal received from the plurality of electrode bodies 10 via the wiring unit 102 into a signal capable of wireless transmission. For example, the signal processing unit 111 digitizes a biological signal by an AD converter (not shown), adds identification information of the electrode body 10 by a processor (CPU) (not shown), and sends the biological signal to the wireless module 112.

The wireless module 112 wirelessly transmits the identification information received from the signal processing unit 111, the digitized biological signal, and the like to the measurement / analysis device 200 by means of a transmission interface and an antenna (both not shown).

The battery 113 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery. The battery 113 supplies power to the circuit unit 30 of the electrode body 10 and also supplies power to the signal processing unit 111 and the wireless module 112 via the wiring unit 102 and the through wiring 46.

The measurement / analysis device 200 includes, for example, a computer to which a wireless module is connected and a display device (both not shown), and observes the received biological signal and determines an abnormality.

According to the present embodiment, the electrode body 10 provided on the cloth 101 of the garment 100 has a convex shape toward the living body of the subject, and the electrode portion 20 extends outward on the surface thereof and is conductive. Since the fibers 13 are formed and the main body portion 12 has flexibility, even if the subject moves, the living body of the subject can be contacted with good and stable contact pressure. Therefore, motion artifacts of biological signals can be reduced. Further, since the electrode portion 20 that has received the biological signal and the amplifier circuit 34 provided in the main body portion 12 are provided close to each other, noise from the outside is suppressed and the attenuation of the weak biological signal is reduced. The biological signal can be amplified. Therefore, even if the wiring portion 102 of the clothing 100 picks up noise from the outside, a sufficient SN ratio can be secured, and accurate measurement becomes possible.

When the circuit unit 30 of the above-described modified example has a sensor, the signal from the sensor can be used for measurement, and when the sensor is, for example, a pressure sensor, the contact between the electrode body 10 and the test object is made. In order to detect the degree of contact of the electrode body 10 with the living body by the signal representing the pressure, and to determine whether the noise of the biological signal (for example, an electrocardiogram) is caused by a motion artifact. It can be used and the reliability of measurement can be improved.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. It is possible.

In addition, regarding the above description, the following additional notes will be further disclosed (Appendix 1).
An electrode portion provided on the surface of the convex body and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending at least outward from the surface, and an electrode portion.
A circuit unit having an amplifier circuit arranged inside the convex body, and
A connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion,
Electrode body comprising.
(Supplementary note 2) The electrode body according to Supplementary note 1, further comprising a sensor arranged inside the convex body.
(Appendix 3) The electrode body according to Appendix 2, wherein the sensor is a MEMS sensor.
(Appendix 4) The electrode body according to Appendix 2 or 3, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.
(Appendix 5) The circuit unit includes a flexible substrate provided with an amplifier circuit, a plurality of electrode pads, and flexible wiring for connecting the flexible substrate and the plurality of electrode pads, respectively. death,
The electrode pad has flexibility and
The electrode body according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 4, wherein the wiring has a structure that elastically supports a flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit.
(Supplementary note 6) The electrode body according to Supplementary note 5, wherein the flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit and the portion of the sheet body facing the flexible substrate are not fixed.
(Supplementary note 7) The electrode body according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 6, wherein the convex body has a flexible sealing portion that covers the circuit portion.
(Appendix 8) The electrode portion has a stretchable resin layer on the surface of the convex body.
The electrode body according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 7, wherein one end of each of the plurality of conductive fibers is held by the resin layer, and the other end extends outward from the surface.
(Appendix 9) The connecting means includes another resin layer stretchably arranged on the surface of the sheet body, and a plurality of other conductive fibers in which one end of each is held by the other resin layer. The electrode body according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 8, further comprising a wiring portion having an electrically insulating protective film covering the other plurality of conductive fibers.
(Appendix 10) The connecting means includes a plurality of conductors penetrating the sheet body.
The electrode body according to Appendix 9, wherein the wiring portions provided on both sides of the sheet body are electrically connected by the plurality of conductors.
(Appendix 11) A method for forming an electrode body, which is a method of forming an electrode body.
The step of fixing the circuit part in which the amplifier circuit is arranged on one surface of the sheet body,
A step of forming a sealing portion covering the circuit portion and
The step of forming an adhesive layer on the outer surface of the sealing portion,
A step of planting a plurality of conductive fibers on the adhesive layer and exposing them on the surface to form an electrode portion.
A step of electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion,
The method described above.
(Supplementary note 12) The method according to Supplementary note 11, wherein the circuit unit has a sensor.
(Appendix 13) The method according to Appendix 12, wherein the sensor is a MEMS sensor.
(Supplementary note 14) The method according to Supplementary note 11 or 12, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.
(Supplementary Note 15) The method according to any one of Supplementary note 11 to 14, wherein the step of forming the sealing portion includes a step of injecting a resin into the inner surface of a mold surrounding the circuit portion.
(Appendix 16) The circuit unit includes a flexible substrate provided with an amplifier circuit, a plurality of electrode pads, and flexible wiring for connecting the flexible substrate and the plurality of electrode pads, respectively. death,
Before injecting the resin into the inner surface of the mold, the flexible substrate and the sheet body are adhered to each other, and after the resin is solidified, a film body capable of separating the flexible substrate and the sheet body is formed. The method according to any one of Supplementary note 11 to 15, which is provided.
(Supplementary note 17) The method according to any one of Supplementary note 11 to 16, wherein the step of forming the sealing portion is to fix the sealing member surrounding the circuit portion to the sheet body.
(Appendix 18) In the step of forming the adhesive layer, another adhesive layer is further formed on the surface of the sheet body on the one side surface side.
The method according to any one of Supplementary note 11 to 17, wherein in the step of forming the electrode portion, a plurality of conductive fibers are transplanted to the other adhesive layer to form the first wiring portion.
(Supplementary Note 19) The fixing step includes a step of forming a first conductor penetrating the sheet body, and connects the first conductor and the terminal of the circuit portion. The method described in any one of them.
(Appendix 20) A step of forming a second conductor penetrating the sheet body and
The method according to Appendix 19, further comprising a step of connecting the first wiring portion and the second conductor.
(Appendix 21) A step of forming a second wiring portion on the surface of the sheet body on the other surface side, and
A step of connecting the first conductor and the second wiring portion,
A step of connecting the second conductor and the second wiring portion,
20 is further provided.
(Appendix 22) Clothing
An electrode body provided on the clothing and receiving a signal from the measurement target,
A wiring unit that is electrically connected to the output unit of the electrode body and transmits an output signal,
A communication unit that is connected to the wiring unit and transmits the output signal,
With
The electrode body is
A flexible convex body provided on the surface of the cloth of the garment on the measurement target side, and
An electrode portion provided on the surface of the convex body and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending at least outward from the surface, and an electrode portion.
A circuit unit having an amplifier circuit arranged inside the convex body, and
A connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion,
The garment having.
(Appendix 23) Further, a sensor arranged inside the convex body is provided.
The clothing according to Appendix 22, wherein the output from the sensor is output from the output unit.
(Appendix 24) The garment according to Appendix 23, wherein the sensor is a MEMS sensor.
(Appendix 25) The garment according to Appendix 23 or 24, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.
(Appendix 26) The circuit unit includes a flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit, a plurality of electrode pads, and flexible wiring for connecting the flexible substrate and the plurality of electrode pads, respectively. Have and
The electrode pad has flexibility and
The garment according to any one of Supplementary note 22 to 25, wherein the wiring has a structure that elastically supports a flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit.
(Supplementary note 27) The garment according to any one of Supplementary note 22 to 26, wherein the convex body has a flexible sealing portion that covers the circuit portion.
(Appendix 28) The electrode portion has a stretchable resin layer on the surface of the convex body.
The garment according to any one of Supplementary note 22 to 27, wherein one end of each of the plurality of conductive fibers is held by the resin layer, and the other end extends outward from the surface.

10 Electrode body 11 Base material 12 Main body 13 Conductive fiber 14 Sealing part 20 Electrode part 21 Resin layer 30 Circuit part 33 Flexible substrate 34 Amplification circuit 36 Flexible wiring 37, 38 Electrode pads 40, 102 Wiring part 41-43 Wiring 44 ~ 46 Penetration wiring 48,104 Protective film 100 Clothing

Claims (12)

A flexible convex body provided on the surface of the elastic sheet body, and
An electrode portion provided on the surface of the convex body and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending at least outward from the surface, and an electrode portion.
A circuit unit having an amplifier circuit arranged inside the convex body, and
A connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion,
Equipped with a,
The circuit unit includes a flexible substrate provided with an amplifier circuit, a plurality of flexible electrode pads, and flexible wiring for connecting the flexible substrate and the plurality of electrode pads. Have and
The wiring is an electrode body having a structure that elastically supports a flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit. The electrode body according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor arranged inside the convex body. The electrode body according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor. The electrode body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit and the portion of the sheet body facing the flexible substrate are not fixed. The electrode body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the convex body has a flexible sealing portion that covers the circuit portion. The electrode portion has a stretchable resin layer on the surface of the convex body.
The electrode body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one end of each of the plurality of conductive fibers is held by the resin layer, and the other end extends outward from the surface. .. The connecting means includes another resin layer stretchably arranged on the surface of the sheet body, another plurality of conductive fibers in which one end of each is held by the other resin layer, and the other plurality of conductive fibers. The electrode body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a wiring portion having an electrically insulating protective film covering the conductive fibers of the above. The connecting means includes a plurality of conductors penetrating the sheet body.
The electrode body according to claim 7, wherein wiring portions provided on both sides of the sheet body are electrically connected by the plurality of conductors. It is a method of forming an electrode body,
It is a step of fixing a circuit portion in which an amplification circuit is arranged on one surface of a sheet body, and the circuit portion includes a flexible substrate provided with an amplification circuit, a plurality of flexible electrode pads, and a plurality of flexible electrode pads. The flexible substrate and the flexible wiring for connecting the plurality of electrode pads are provided, and the wiring has a structure for elastically supporting the flexible substrate provided with the amplification circuit. , The step and
A step of forming a sealing portion covering the circuit portion and
The step of forming an adhesive layer on the outer surface of the sealing portion,
A step of planting a plurality of conductive fibers on the adhesive layer and exposing them on the surface to form an electrode portion.
A step of electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion,
The method described above. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of forming the sealing portion includes a step of injecting a resin into the inner surface of a mold surrounding the circuit portion. In the step of forming the adhesive layer, another adhesive layer is further formed on the surface of the sheet body on the one side surface side.
The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in the step of forming the electrode portion, a plurality of conductive fibers are flocked on the other adhesive layer to form the first wiring portion. It ’s clothing,
An electrode body provided on the clothing and receiving a signal from the measurement target,
A wiring unit that is electrically connected to the output unit of the electrode body and transmits an output signal,
A communication unit that is connected to the wiring unit and transmits the output signal,
With
The electrode body is
A flexible convex body provided on the surface of the cloth of the garment on the measurement target side, and
An electrode portion provided on the surface of the convex body and having a plurality of conductive fibers extending at least outward from the surface, and an electrode portion.
A circuit unit having an amplifier circuit arranged inside the convex body, and
It has a connecting means for electrically connecting the electrode portion and the circuit portion.
The circuit unit includes a flexible substrate provided with an amplifier circuit, a plurality of flexible electrode pads, and flexible wiring for connecting the flexible substrate and the plurality of electrode pads. Have and
The garment having a structure in which the wiring elastically supports a flexible substrate provided with the amplifier circuit.

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