RU2587967C2 - Device with wall made for tight coverage of body - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to medicine. Disclosed is a bandage comprising a wall made of a dense coverage of parts of body, with electrically conductive material and a format matched with part of body or based on wall elasticity. Wall is adjacent to skin part of body by inner wall. Inner wall is provided with at least one electrically conductive portion, which is arranged to transmit electrical signals from skin or to skin of body part through electrically conductive wall material. Electrically conductive portion is covered with an electrically conductive material and connected to at least one conductor extending through an electrically non-conductive material.

EFFECT: invention provides a simple design, suitable for transmitting electrical signals.

13 cl, 11 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a device comprising a wall made to densely cover a part of the body, with an electrically non-conductive material and with a shape that is consistent with the part of the body or consistent on the basis of the elasticity of the wall, the wall adjacent to the skin of the body part with an inner wall and the inner wall provided with at least one electrically conductive portion, which is designed to transmit electrical signals from the skin or to the skin of a part of the body through an electrically non-conductive wall material.

Devices of this type are bandages or gaskets tightly wound around a body part that are worn on an amputation stump. Gaskets have a certain wall thickness and perform the function of a soft and consistent or coordinated with the amputation stump intermediate layer between the amputation stump and the inner wall of the prosthesis sleeve. The prosthesis sleeve is part of the prosthesis that replaces the amputated part of the patient's limb.

The transmission of electrical signals between the amputation stump and the outside of the gasket may be necessary for many reasons. So, it may be appropriate to transmit electrical signals from the skin of the amputation stump to the outside, in order to control the function of the prosthesis. In this case, the electrodes can be myoelectric electrodes, which at the appropriate points of the amputation stump remove signals of muscle contraction, due to which it is possible to control the corresponding parts of the prosthesis. Mioelectric control of prostheses is known, in particular, for prostheses of hands and hands, however, it can also be used for prostheses of legs and feet.

In addition, it may be appropriate to electrically determine the surface resistance of the skin by measuring the current between two or more electrodes, respectively, of the electrode portions. Thus, for example, it is possible to determine whether the skin of the amputation stump is sweating inside the napkin, due to which the landing of the napkin on the amputation stump and, thereby, the prosthesis can be impaired. In addition, it is possible to use electrodes to determine the pressing pressure of the amputation stump to the inner wall of the pad with the aim, for example, of making it possible to respond to a decrease in the mass of the amputation stump while wearing the prosthesis.

Conversely, it may be appropriate to transmit electrical signals from the outside of the napkin to the skin of the amputation stump, for example, to stimulate muscle contraction of the amputation stump when the prosthesis carrier has been in a passive, for example, sitting position for a long time.

From US 5443525, a gasket is known which is intended to accommodate myoelectric electrodes. To do this, a non-metallic, flexible and soft flat lining is glued into the hole of the prosthesis sleeve, in which a large number of individual conductive electrodes are located. The gasket preferably consists of silicone, a non-conductive flexible plastic. The electrodes can be formed from a mixture of silicone and carbon, or silicone and silver, with the electrodes being each surrounded by non-conductive silicone. Thus, the electrode system is glued onto the inside of the gasket by means of a liner and is accessible through the gasket opening, so that the myoelectric signals received by the electrodes can be directed outward through the hole to evaluate, respectively, control. This system is difficult to manufacture and has limited wearing comfort. In addition, costs are required to provide the gasket hole with a special seal when the gasket, as is often the case, must be airtight in order to hold the gasket on an amputation stump using the vacuum formed in the internal space of the gasket. In this case, the gasket must be maintained under pressure in relation to the weight of the movable prosthesis.

US 2009/0216339 A1 discloses a similar gasket in which a conductive insert is provided in the corresponding hole of the gasket, provided for connection to the electrode and adjacent to the edge of the gasket to the edge of the hole with an edge made in the form of a flange. The insert is glued with a gasket. In this case, the height of the insert can be chosen so that it corresponds to the thickness of the gasket. However, first of all, it is provided that the insert protrudes downward behind the inner wall of the strip, in order to press the amputation stump to the tissue. An air gap or a gap filled with glue is formed between the insert and the wall of the gasket on the inside of the gasket. This design also has the above disadvantages, namely, increased labor costs to provide an airtight adhesive joint, which can be subjected to large mechanical stresses. Therefore, at high manufacturing costs, reliability is not fully ensured.

This problem also exists in the solution according to DE 20 2006 007 460 U1, in which a special holder for conductive electrode sections is provided, which adjoins the flange edge to the inside of the gasket.

DE 10 2010 005 462 A1 discloses a gasket in which the conductive portion is integrated into the gasket material and forms a single, continuously passing inner wall with the non-conductive gasket material. In this case, the non-conductive gasket material is preferably a polymerizate, and the conductive region may be introduced into the material before the polymerization of the non-conductive material, so that the conductive region during polymerization of the gasket material is connected with it as a whole and a continuous smooth inner wall is formed. In this case, the conductive portion may consist of a non-conductive gasket material in itself, the electrical conductivity of which is provided by additives. The conductive portion may be polymerized together with the gasket material. In this case, the conductive portion serves to electrically connect the skin surface of the amputation stump with a separate electrode located directly on the other side of the conductive portion that receives electrical signals, for example, myoelectric signals, from the skin of the amputation stump or, alternatively, generates excitation signals that are transmitted through a conductive area to the skin. For this, the gasket has on the outside of the electrically conductive section, for example, a receiving chamber in which electrodes can be mechanically mounted. The necessary gasket formation requires additional costs.

The problems existing in the pads for the amputation stump are also characteristic in a similar form for the bandages that wrap parts of the body, such as, for example, a limb, trunk or the like.

The basis of this invention is the task of making a device of this type so that it is suitable for transmitting electrical signals with a simple design.

To solve this problem according to the invention, the device indicated at the beginning is characterized in that the electrically conductive portion is coated with an electrically non-conductive material and is connected to at least one conductor passing through the electrically non-conductive material.

Thus, in the device according to the invention, an electrically conductive section is provided, by means of which it is possible to transmit an electric signal from the skin or to the skin of a body part, without having to give the device a special shape for this purpose. Instead, the electrically conductive portion is coated with an electrically non-conductive material, so that the electrically conductive portion remains uncoated only from the side of the inner wall and, with the exception of the inner wall, is surrounded on all sides by an electrically non-conductive material. The electrically conductive section is connected to a conductor that passes through an electrically non-conductive material and thereby conducts an electrical signal to that place of the device where, without problems, you can connect to a measuring device or evaluation device or to an excitation generator. In this case, the conductor is made in the form of a narrow elongated element, which is preferably located in the axial direction of the strip. The axial direction runs perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the tubular or funnel-shaped gasket, which can be made open or closed at its distal end. It is preferable that the gasket be closed at the distal end.

The conductor can be made in one piece with the electrically conductive section, that is, consist of the same material as the electrically conductive section, and preferably made with it.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the conductive portion is integrated into the non-conductive wall material and forms a single and continuously formed inner wall with the non-conductive wall material.

However, the electrically conductive portion may also be connected to a separate conductor passing in the non-conductive material, which may consist of another material, for example, metal.

The device according to the invention is intended for transmitting electrical signals through a wall in a suitable place on the outside of the wall, in which simple contact with a signal processing device or signal generator is possible, for example inside a prosthesis or orthopedic device. Thus, in the case of a measuring signal, it is transmitted without evaluation. In this case, in particular, with measuring signals, a signal-to-noise ratio problem may arise.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an amplification circuit is located directly on the conductive section, which is coated with a non-conductive wall material and connected via at least one contact lead to the conductive section. At least one other contact terminal of the amplification circuit is connected to at least one conductor.

The electrical measuring signal received by the electrically conductive portion from the skin of a part of the body can be preliminarily amplified directly on the electrically conductive portion in order to transmit it as a still unprocessed electrical signal through a conductor with an improved signal to noise ratio. In this case, the amplifying circuit is made in the form of an integrated circuit and is located directly on the electrically conductive section so that one output of the amplifying circuit makes electrical contact with the electrically conductive section, in order to create an electrical connection between the terminal and the electrically conductive section. Using another pin, the amplifier circuit is connected to a conductor. This contact terminal can serve, for example, for supplying electric current, while depending on the application, a connection to a source of electric voltage or a source of electric current is provided. In such a system, an electrical signal can be transmitted as a measurement signal, for example, wirelessly to a receiver. As an alternative solution, you can connect the contact output of the amplifying circuit, conducting an amplified measuring signal with a conductor, in order to transmit a pre-amplified measuring signal through the conductor to the evaluation circuit. Although it is also possible to wirelessly supply electricity, for example, by induction, in this embodiment, a second conductor for supplying electricity is preferably provided, which in this case is connected to the corresponding contact terminal of the amplification circuit.

To eliminate the need for laying two conductors in a non-conductive wall material for applying a supply voltage, it can be provided that the wall has an electrically conductive layer located isolated from the electrically conductive portion, which is intended to be connected to the output of the power source. Preferably, a mass, or a neutral conductor of the voltage source, is connected to this electrically conductive wall layer, which may be on the outside or on the inside of the non-conductive wall material. In this case, an electrical connection can be made with the corresponding contact terminal of the amplification circuit. The conductive layer on the outside further protects the signal conductor from interference.

If the conductive layer is located on the inner side of the wall, so that it forms part of the inner wall, then natural insulation must be provided in the area of the electrically conductive section, in order to enable the transmission of the measuring signal or the excitation signal relative to the mass potential, and not directly to the tap to mass. In this case, it is ensured that the skin surfaces of the parts of the body outside the measurement point are under a certain electrical potential, which is determined by the electrically conductive wall section connected to this potential.

The amplifier circuit preferably has at least one transistor, in particular a field effect transistor, and is preferably formed by a transistor, in particular a field effect transistor, with its contact terminals. In this case, the field effect transistor can be switched on according to the usual amplification circuit, in order to ensure, for example, voltage amplification or current amplification, depending on the application.

Due to the use of an amplification circuit, for example, for preliminary amplification of a measuring signal or for converting an impedance, a significant improvement in signal pickup is achieved without the need for special wiring costs.

Above was indicated a single conductive portion of the device. For specialists in this field of technology it is clear that, in particular, for the perception of myoelectric signals, a device, in particular a gasket, with several conductive sections should be provided. In addition, it is possible to implement the system according to the invention also for a device, in particular a gasket, which has several conductive sections in certain areas, for example, for removing or applying a measuring signal or an excitation signal in a relevant place of a body part. Thus, the tolerances can be compensated for when positioning the device on body parts, since the relevant place of the body part should only be in a certain area and does not have to coincide with one single conductive area.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the non-conductive wall material is a hydrophobic material. As an alternative solution or in addition to this, the conductive section consists of a hydrophilic material. In this case, both signs can be realized by the fact that one material is provided with a hydrophobic, or respectively, hydrophilic coating. In this case, the non-conductive wall material is provided with a hydrophobic coating. The conductive portion may be provided with a hydrophilic coating.

In order to achieve the best possible electrical contact between the skin of the carrier of the device and the conductive portion, it is preferable when there is a liquid film between them or when the conductive portion is wetted. This is easily achieved using a hydrophilic, i.e. wettable, material. If, in addition, the rest of the inner wall of the device is made of a hydrophobic material or provided with a hydrophobic coating, then this area remains dry based on the water repellent action of the material. This leads to improved compatibility with the skin in the installed state.

In particular, due to the hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties of the respective surfaces on the inner side of the gasket, it is achieved that there is at least almost no residual liquid on the hydrophobic parts, so that the risk of short circuits and unintentional transmission of electrical signals is reduced or completely eliminated. Due to this, the possibility of more correct signal transmission is provided.

Naturally, active and passive electrodes can be used, that is, with an integrated or separate amplifying element.

A suitable device enables particularly easy cleaning and installation. So, for example, you can first wet the inner wall of the device with water, for example, fill the device with water. Then the water is removed from the device. This is done, for example, by pouring water from the device. The hydrophobic water-repellent material of the inner wall in this case is almost completely dry, so that in this case a pleasant feeling when worn and hygiene of use are achieved. In contrast, the hydrophilic, water-attracting material of the conductive zone remains moistened and provides good electrical contact.

The hydrophobicity of materials and their surfaces can be set, for example, by the wetting angle. The larger the contact angle, the greater the hydrophobicity of the surface. In this case, surfaces with a contact angle less than 90 ° are called hydrophilic, and surfaces with a contact angle greater than 90 ° are called hydrophobic.

The following is a more detailed explanation of the invention based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a gasket with several electrically conductive portions that are connected via a multipole plug to the distal end of the gasket through conductors, so that a connection is made to the evaluation and control circuit;

FIG. 2 - the gasket according to FIG. 1, in an embodiment in which an electrically conductive portion is connected to a separate conductor;

FIG. 3 - the gasket according to FIG. 3, in which an amplifying circuit is located in an electrically conductive portion that is connected to a conductor;

FIG. 4 - gasket according to FIG. 3, in which the amplifier circuit is connected by another contact terminal to an electrically conductive layer on the outside of the gasket;

FIG. 5 - the device according to FIG. 3, in which the electrically conductive layer is located on the inner side of the wall, however, isolated from the electrically conductive portion, and the contact terminal of the amplification circuit is connected to this layer;

FIG. 6 is a wall of the gasket, which mainly consists of a conductive material, while the conductive portion is covered with an electrically non-conductive material, and the conductor connected to the amplification circuit passes inside the non-conductive material;

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the device according to FIG. 6, wherein the non-conductive wall material separates the conductive outer layer from the conductive inner layer of the wall;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electrical amplification circuit comprising an input contact terminal connected to an electrically conductive portion, an output contact terminal, and two contact terminals for supplying voltage;

FIG. 9 is an amplifier circuit according to FIG. 8, with a field effect transistor;

FIG. 10 is an amplifier circuit according to FIG. 9, in an embodiment in which a supply voltage potential is supplied through an electrically conductive wall layer;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a wall of a gasket with an electrically conductive section, which is made as a single unit with an electrical conductor.

In FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, for a device according to the invention, a pad 1 used for a prosthetic leg or arm. Gasket 1 is designed to be worn on an amputation stump and has a hollow interior. To align with the amputation stump, a liner in the form of a sleeve may extend slightly conically toward the distal end. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the gasket 1 is closed at the distal end and in this case is made with a plug-in protrusion 2, with the help of which it is possible to mechanically connect the gasket to the prosthesis. At the same time, the plug-in protrusion 2 serves as a connecting means for the evaluation or control circuit 3. The gasket is used to absorb the amputation stump relative to the prosthesis sleeve (not shown), with which the prosthesis is attached to the amputation stump. In order to improve the fit of the prosthesis sleeve between the prosthesis sleeve and the gasket 1 and / or between the gasket 1 and the amputation stump, a vacuum can be provided by which the adhesion is improved.

In FIG. 1 schematically shows that the wall of the gasket 1 in one zone is provided with several electrically conductive sections 4, which are connected through a corresponding conductor 5 to the plug-in protrusion 2.

For clarity, only one zone with electrically conductive sections 4 is shown. It is understood that the gasket may also have several zones with electrically conductive sections 4. In addition, for precisely positioned gaskets it is possible that the gasket also has only one electrically conductive section 4, or respectively , in each zone of interest, there is only one electrically conductive section.

In FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the wall 6 of the gasket 1, which has an inner wall 7 and an outer side 8. In this case, the wall 6 consists in this case of a completely non-conductive material 9, which thereby forms the inner wall 7 and the outer side 8. On the inner wall 7, the electrically non-conductive material 9 is interrupted by the electrically conductive portion 4, which in the illustrated embodiment forms a single and continuously passing inner wall 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically conductive section 4 is surrounded on all sides, with the exception of the inner wall 7, by an electrically non-conductive material 9. It is made integrally with a conductor 5 passing inside the electrically non-conductive material 9, so that electrical signals can be routed through the electrically conductive section 4 and a conductor 5, for example, at the distal end of the strip 1, to the plug-in protrusion 2, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. one.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the embodiment, the electrically conductive section 4 is connected to a separate conductor 5 ′, which passes through the electrically non-conductive material 9 of the wall 6, for example also to the distal end of the strip 1. In this case, the conductor 5 ′ can be made in the form of a metal conductor, for example a wire, which, in the manufacture of the wall 6 of the gasket 1, for example by casting, can be embedded in the wall 6 by laying in an appropriate mold. The connection of the conductor 5 ′ with the electrically conductive section 4 made in the form of a block can be carried out, for example, in the unpolymerized state of the electrically conductive section. In this case, the electrically conductive section, preferably made of a polymeric material, can be polymerized before or simultaneously with the electrically non-conductive wall material 9.

Preferably, the electrically non-conductive material 9 of wall 6 is silicone or polyurethane. In FIG. 4 it is shown that an amplifying circuit is applied to the electrically conductive section 4, by which it is possible to pre-amplify the electrical signals received by the electrically conductive section before they are diverted through the conductor 5 ′, for example, to the plug protrusion 2. In this case, the electrically conductive section 4 together with amplifier circuit also on all sides, with the exception of the inner wall 7, is surrounded by a non-conductive material 9.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the exemplary embodiment, the wall is provided on the outer side 8 over the entire surface with a conductive layer 11. This conductive layer is expediently connected to the contact terminal of the voltage source. Therefore, using the conductive layer 11, it is possible to simply connect the conductive layer 11 to the contact terminal of the amplification circuit 12, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6 of the embodiment, the conductive layer 13 is located on the inner side of the non-conductive material 9, so that the conductive layer 13 forms a large part of the inner wall 7 of the gasket. The conductive layer 13 forms, with the conductive section 4, an inner wall 7 located on one straight line, while a non-conductive material 9 is disposed between the conductive layer 13 and the electrically conductive section 4 in the direction of the inner wall 7, so that the electrically conductive section 4 is again on all sides, except the inner wall 7 is surrounded by a non-conductive material 9. In this embodiment, one contact terminal of the amplification circuit 2 is also connected through the connection 12 ′ to the electrically conductive layer 13.

In the depicted in FIG. 7 of the embodiment, a gasket wall 6 is shown, which is made for the most part from the conductive layer 13, so that the outer side 8 is complete and the inner wall 7 is mainly formed by the conductive layer. Non-conductive material 9 surrounds on all sides, with the exception of the inner wall 7, an electrically conductive section 4 and an amplifying circuit 10 and a conductor 5 ′ located thereon.

As shown in FIG. 8, the wall 6 consists of a conductive layer 11 on the outer side 8, an electrically conductive layer 3 on the inner wall 7 and located between the two electrically conductive layers of the intermediate layer of electrically non-conductive material 9, which, as shown in the figure, from all sides, with the exception of the inner wall 7, it surrounds the electrically conductive section 4 with an amplification circuit 10 located on it.

Thus, it is clear that the non-conductive wall material 9 in any case covers the electrically conductive portion 4 from all sides, so that it only remains uncoated from the side of the inner wall 7. In addition, non-conductive material 9 surrounds the conductors 5, 5 ′ on all sides, in order to ensure reliable signal transmission. The non-conductive material 9 preferably forms a layer extending over the entire wall 6 of the gasket, however, it can also be formed as shown in FIG. 7, only in some places inside the wall 6 of the gasket 1.

In FIG. 9 to 11 schematically show possible electrical connections of the amplification circuit 10.

In FIG. 9 schematically shows an electrically conductive portion 4, which abuts its surface on the inner wall 7 to the skin 14 of the amputation stump and receives signals transmitted through the skin 14 electric. An electrical signal enters through the connection of the amplifier circuit 10 to the first contact terminal E of the amplifier V of the amplifier circuit 10. The amplified signal enters through the terminal A to the conductor 5, with the aim of removal in the form of an amplified signal. In addition, the amplifier V is connected to the supply conductors + U _b and -U _b , through which the operating voltage is supplied to the amplifier V. Thus, in FIG. 10 shows a monopolar amplifier module with a power source.

In FIG. 10 shows an amplifier circuit 10 which is formed by an FET. It is connected via a D terminal of the supply conductor and the + U _b via the contact terminal S through a resistor R - with supply voltage -U _b. Another contact terminal G is connected directly to the electrically conductive section 4, so that electrical measurement signals from the skin 14 are supplied to this contact terminal G through the electrically conductive section 4. In this case, the field effect transistor FET is connected according to a common drain circuit (source follower), in which not voltage amplification, but current amplification. It acts as an impedance converter and results in low output impedance. The connection point between the terminal S and the resistor R forms the output of the amplifier circuit 10 and is connected to the conductor 5 ′.

In FIG. 10 it is also shown that one pole of the supply voltage (+ U _b ) is connected to the electrically conductive layer 13, which is in contact with the skin 14, so that shown in FIG. 10, the circuit may be implemented using those shown in FIG. 6 and 7 embodiments.

Shown in FIG. 11, the circuit also represents a common drain circuit (source follower) of the transistor FET, which can be implemented using an exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, that is, by means of an electrically conductive layer 11 on the outer side of the wall 6 and an electrically conductive layer 13 on the inner wall 7. In this case, the electrically conductive layer 13 on the inner wall 7 is connected to its own pole, for example, a neutral conductor or a mass conductor.

Since the resistor R for implementing the common drain circuit can be made outside of the strip 1, for example, in the plug-in protrusion 2, in the case of the connection according to FIG. 10 and 11, there are also no additional costs for wiring, since only a conductor 5 ′ is required inside the gasket to divert the amplified measuring signal.

Claims (13)

1. The bandage containing the wall (6), made to tightly cover part of the body, with an electrically non-conductive material (9) and with a shape that is consistent with the body part or consistent on the basis of the elasticity of the wall, while the wall (6) is adjacent to the skin ( 14) body parts with an inner wall (7) and an inner wall (7) provided with at least one electrically conductive section (4), which is placed to transmit electrical signals from the skin or to the skin (14) of the body part through an electrically non-conductive material (9 ) walls (6), moreover, electrically conductive section (4) is coated with an electrically non-conductive material (9) and connected to at least one conductor (5, 5 ′) passing through an electrically non-conductive material (9). 2. A bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor (5) is made as a single unit with an electrically conductive section (4). 3. A bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conductive section (4) is connected to a separate conductor (5 ′) passing in a non-conductive material (9). 4. The bandage according to claim 3, characterized in that the conductor (5 ′) consists of metal. 5. The bandage according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that directly on the conductive section (4) is an amplification circuit (10), which is coated with a non-conductive material (9) of the wall (6) and connected via at least one contact terminal (G) to the conductive section (4), and that at least one other contact terminal (S) of the amplification circuit (10) is connected to at least one conductor (5 ′). 6. A bandage according to claim 5, characterized in that the wall (6) has an electrically conductive layer (11, 13) located isolated from the electrically conductive portion (4), which is intended to be connected to the contact terminal of the power source. 7. The bandage according to claim 6, characterized in that the electrically conductive layer (13) is intended to be connected to the mass potential of the power source. 8. The bandage according to claim 5, characterized in that the amplification circuit (10) has at least one transistor, in particular a field effect transistor (FET). 9. The bandage according to claim 8, characterized in that the amplification circuit (10) is formed by at least one transistor, in particular a field effect transistor (FET). 10. A bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive portion (4) is integrated into the non-conductive material (9) of the wall (6) and forms a single and continuously formed inner wall (7) with the non-conductive material (9) of the wall (6). 11. The bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-conductive material (9) of the wall (6) is a hydrophobic material. 12. The bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive section (4) consists of a hydrophilic material. 13. The bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended to be put on on the amputation stump and have a wall thickness to provide a soft and consistent or coordinated with the amputation stump intermediate layer between the amputation stump and the inner wall of the prosthesis sleeve.

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