WO2018103818A1

WO2018103818A1 - System for measuring physiological data

Info

Publication number: WO2018103818A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/079786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen König; René BOLLHALDER
Original assignee: Vexatec Ag
Priority date: 2016-12-05
Filing date: 2016-12-05
Publication date: 2018-06-14

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system for measuring physiological data and/or motion data of a user. The system comprises a garment (10) having an outer face (10a), an inner face (10b), a first electrode (12) configured to contact the skin (18) of the user at a first position (12a) and a second electrode (13) configured to contact the skin (18) of the user at a second position (13a). The system further comprises a first electrode lead (14) configured to electrically connect the first electrode (12) to a first interface contact area (15), a second electrode lead (16) configured to electrically connect the second electrode (13) to a second interface contact area (17), a first interface unit (20) arranged on the inner face (10b) of the garment (10), a second interface unit (21) arranged on the outer face (10a) of the garment (10) and an electronic device (22) configured to receive measured physiological data via the second interface unit (21). The first interface unit (20) and the second interface unit (21) are connected to each other by means of a first fastening mechanism (30). The electronic device (22) is attachable to the second user interface unit (21) by means of a second fastening mechanism (31, 50). The second fastening mechanism is detachable. The second interface unit (21) is adapted to provide an electrical coupling between the first interface contact area (15) and the electronic device (22) and between the second interface contact area (17) and the electronic device (22).

Description

System for measuring physiological data

Technical Field The invention relates to a system for measuring physiological data and/or motion data of a user. The invention further relates to a method for fabricating such a system.

Background Art

Wearable technologies are smart devices that can be worn on the user's body and may have advanced functions such as wireless connectivity, analytics and so on. They may have a variety of applications which include healthcare, medical, fitness, wellness, industrial, military and infotainment.

Major drivers for the growth of the wearable technologies market are an increasing health awareness among all age groups, demand for portable devices, demand for real time data analytics and so on. Also, development in big data technologies such as cloud computing support the growth of these smart devices.

Wearable sensors may effectively monitor and measure bodily activities such as body temperature, heart rate and pulse rate among others. Due to increased demand for wearable technology along with further technological development of the sensors the application areas of wearable sensors are anticipated to grow further.

A major challenge with such wearable technologies is to combine wear comfort with high quality measurement signals. Many known systems for measuring physiological parameters may be perceived as uncomfortable by some users and/or they may lack signal quality.

For example, systems for measuring the heart rate are known that may require a separate chest belt to be worn

Other systems as disclosed in US 2016/0066809 or US

2012/023891 OA 1 provide garments with holes for placing measurement electrodes through the holes on the user^'s skin.

DE 10 2012 025 345 Al discloses a shirt with integrated textile sensors and an interface unit garment that uses push knobs to fasten a transceiver unit on textile electrodes and a local digital data processing unit that receives measurement signals from the textile electrodes and forwards the received measurement signals to a server. The local digital unit is attached to the shirt by a micro USB press button or snap fastener cable.

However, such snap fasteners provide significant stress on the shirt during removal and may hence reduce the endurance of the shirt.

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide another system for measuring physiological parameters of a user, in particular a system that facilitates ease of use, endurance and/or stable electrode positions.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to an embodiment of a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for measuring physiological data and/or motion data of a user. The system comprises a garment having an outer face, an inner face, a first electrode configured to contact the skin of the user at a first position and a second electrode configured to contact the skin of the user at a second position. The garment further comprises a first electrode lead configured to electrically connect the first electrode to a first interface contact area and a second electrode lead configured to electrically connect the second electrode to a second interface contact area. The system further comprises a first interface unit arranged on the inner face of the garment, a second interface unit arranged on the outer face of the garment and an electronic device configured to receive measured physiological data via the second interface unit. The first interface unit and the second interface unit are connected to each other by means of a first fastening mechanism. The electronic device is attachable to the second user interface unit by means of a second fastening mechanism. The second fastening mechanism is detachable. The second interface unit is adapted to provide an electrical coupling between the first interface contact area and the electronic device and between the second interface contact area and the electronic device.

Such an embodied system provides a smart, reliable and user- friendly way to attach an electronic device to a garment and to provide an electrical connection between electrodes integrated in the garment and the electronic device. Furthermore, such a device may facilitate ease of fabrication.

While the first interface unit and the second interface unit may be permanently and irreversibly attached to each other by means of the first fastening mechanism, the electronic device may be attached to and detached from the second interface unit by means of the second fastening mechanism. This provides flexibility and ease of use.

The inner face of the garment is understood as the "inner" side that shall face or touch the skin of the user. Accordingly, the outer face of the garment is understood as the outer face side.

Providing the first interface unit at the inner face of the garment and the second interface unit at the outer face of the garment facilitates a stable position of the first interface unit, the second interface unit and the electronic device with respect to the skin of the user. Furthermore, this may facilitate a stable position of the first electrode and the second electrode and hence an improved measurement.

Integrating the electrodes at the garment avoids separate pieces of clothing such as separate chest belts.

The second interface unit may provide the electrical coupling between the first interface contact area and the electronic device and between the second interface contact area and the electronic device as a direct electrical connection or via the first interface unit. In other words, according to some embodiments the second interface unit may be directly electrically connected to the first and the second interface contact area and to the electronic device. According to other embodiments the second interface unit may not be directly electrically connected to the first and the second interface contact area, but may implement the electrical coupling to the first interface contact area and the second interface contact area via the first interface unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first electrode, the second electrode, the first electrode lead, the second electrode lead, the first interface contact area and/or the second interface contact area are formed by stitching of one or more electrically conductive filaments.

This may provide a very secure, reliable and stable connection between the garment, the electrodes, the electrode leads and the interface contact areas.

According to another preferred embodiment the first fastening mechanism is a riveting mechanism, in particular a blind riveting mechanism.

Such a mechanism provides on the one hand a secure and reliable connection and facilitates on the other hand an easy and efficient fabrication process.

According to another preferred embodiment the first fastening mechanism is a welding mechanism. Such a mechanism provides on the one hand a secure and reliable connection and facilitates on the other hand an easy and efficient fabrication process.

According to another preferred embodiment the first fastening mechanism is an adhesive bonding mechanism.

According to another preferred embodiment, the first interface contact area and the second interface contact area each form a ring. Furthermore, the first interface unit comprises a first cylindrical shaft adapted to penetrate the ring of the first interface contact area and a second cylindrical shaft adapted to penetrate the ring of the second interface contact area. The second interface unit comprises a first hollow cylinder adapted to receive the first cylindrical shaft and a second hollow cylinder adapted to receive the second cylindrical shaft.

This embodiment provides an elegant, simple and reliable way of connecting the first interface unit and the second interface unit. More particularly, it facilitates on the one hand a reliable mechanical connection between the first interface unit and the second interface unit and on the other hand it may also facilitate a reliable electrical connection between the first interface contact area, the second interface contact area and the second interface unit, e.g. by coatings on the surface of the cylindrical shafts and/or the hollow cylinders.

It should be noted that the terms ring and cylinder in this context are understood in a broad sense and do not need to have a circular form. Rather they may have other suitable shapes, e.g. a hexagonal form. Preferably the ring and the cylinder are formed in a form-locking way to each other.

According to another preferred embodiment the first interface unit and the second interface unit are both electrically coupled to the first interface contact area and to the second interface contact area.

This further facilitates the reliability of the electrical connection and hence of the measurements of the physiological parameters. According to some embodiments, both the first and the second interface unit may have a direct electrical connection to the first and the second interface contact area.

According to other embodiments only the first interface unit may have a direct electrical connection to the first and the second interface contact area, while the second interface unit is directly electrically connected to the first interface contact unit and the electronic device. The latter provides an electrical coupling between the first and the second interface contact area and the electronic device via the first interface unit and the second interface unit.

According to another preferred embodiment the second fastening mechanism is a bayonet screw joint.

Such bayonet screw joint is user-friendly to handle. Furthermore, the bayonet screw joint can be implemented such that the wear or stress on the garment during attachment and detachment of the electronic device is low and in particular lower than with fastener buttons/press buttons. This may result in a significant increase of the endurance of the garment.

According to another preferred embodiment the second fastening mechanism is a magnetic lock mechanism.

Such a magnetic lock mechanism is also user-friendly to handle. Furthermore, the bayonet screw joint can be implemented such that the wear or stress on the garment during attachment and detachment of the electronic device is low and in particular lower than with fastener buttons/press buttons. This results in a significant increase of the endurance of the garment.

According to another preferred embodiment at least the surface of the first and the second interface unit consists of a washable material.

In this respect a washable material is understood as a material that can be machine washed with at least 30 degree Celsius without providing harm to the first interface unit and the second interface unit. Such an embodiment allows machine washing of the garment together with the first interface unit and the second interface unit.

According to another preferred embodiment the first and/or the second interface unit comprise, in particular consist of, a plastics material. According to a particularly preferred embodiment the first and/or the second interface unit comprise a composition of silicon and rubber. Such a material composition has been found to combine ease of wear, endurance and electrode stability in an advantageous way. According to another preferred embodiment the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to perform a 1 -phase electrocardiogram of the user.

Such a 1 -phase electrocardiogram needs only two electrodes, but 5 may still provide sufficient data for a plurality of applications, in particular for sports applications. According to another preferred embodiment the system may be configured to perform a 3 -phase electrocardiogram.

According to another preferred embodiment, the first interface unit l o and the second interface unit are adapted to mechanically stabilize the position of the first electrode and the second electrode with respect to the body of the user.

Such a mechanical stabilization can be enabled as the first and the second interface unit are connected to both the first and the second electrode. In this 15 respect they establish a mechanical bridge that can stabilize or support the position of the electrodes.

In addition, this stabilization is facilitated by the sandwich-like structure of the first interface unit and the second interface unit with respect to the garment. In other words, the garment is sandwiched between the first interface unit

20 and the second interface unit. By providing materials of predefined stiffness for the first interface unit and the second interface unit, a stable position of the first interface contact area and the second interface contact area and thereby of the first electrode and the second electrode can be facilitated. This is in particular useful for 1 -phase electrocardiograms as the first interface unit and the second interface unit may be

25 placed centrally in the middle between the first electrode and the second electrode

According to another preferred embodiment, the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead are adapted to be electrically isolated and/or shielded, in particular from the skin of the user.

This prevents disturbances of the signal measured by the first electrode and the second electrode. The isolation/shielding may be implemented in various ways. According to some embodiments, the electrically conductive filaments may have an electrically isolating coating in the area of the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead. According to other embodiments, one or more additional electrically isolating layers may be provided on or around the electrically conducting fila- ments in the area of the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead. The additional electrically isolating layers could be e.g. sewed, glued or laser welded on/at the garment.

According to another preferred embodiment the garment is configured to perform a compression, in particular a gradient compression, on the body of the user.

The compression is preferably configured such that it ensures/facilitates a stable position of the first and the second electrode with sufficient contact pressure. Furthermore, such compression may improve the performance of the athlete and/or the regeneration of the athlete.

According to some embodiments the garment may be configured to provide a higher compression in a chest area of the garment where the first and the second electrodes are placed than in the other areas of the garment. This would support a stable electrode position.

According to another preferred embodiment the electronic device may comprise a processing unit, a memory unit for storing the measured physiological and/or motion data, a transmitter for transmitting the measured physiological and/or motion data to a mobile device and/or a server, one or more temperature sensors for measuring the body temperature of the user and/or the ambient temperature, a global positioning module (GPS), an accelerometer, an altimeter and/or a gyroscope.

Such components may further enrich and enhance the analysis options of the system. The accelerometer, the GPS-module, the altimeter and the gyroscope may provide advanced motion data of the movement of the user.

According to a second aspect of the invention a garment for a system according to the first aspect is provided.

According to a third aspect an electronic device for a system according to the first aspect is provided.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method for fabricating a garment. The method comprises providing a fabric having an outer face and an inner face. The fabric may be in particular a garment, e.g. a shirt, or a part of a garment that shall carry textile sensors and/or electrodes for performing physiological measurements, in particular a chest part of a garment. The method comprises a step of fabricating a first electrode at the fabric. The first electrode is configured to contact the skin of a user at a first position. A further step comprises fabricating a first electrode lead and a first interface contact area at the fabric. The first electrode lead is configured to electrically connect the first electrode to the first interface contact area. A further step comprises fabricating a second electrode at the fabric. The second elec- trode is configured to contact the skin of the user at a second position. A further step comprises fabricating a second electrode lead and a second interface contact area at the fabric. The second electrode lead is configured to electrically connect the second electrode to the second interface contact area. Additional steps comprise providing a first interface unit at the inner face of the fabric, providing a second interface unit at the outer face of the fabric and attaching the first interface unit to the second interface unit through the fabric by means of a first fastening mechanism. The second interface unit provides a second, detachable fastening mechanism for an electronic device and an electrical coupling for electrically coupling the first interface contact area and the electronic device and the second interface contact area and the electronic device.

Such a fabrication method is cost-efficient, scalable and flexible. The method may start with a prefabricated garment or with a part of a prefabricated garment, in particular a chest part of a garment. In the latter case, the chest part is provided with the first and the second electrode, the electrode leads, the interface contact areas and the first and the second interface units. Such chest parts may then in subsequent steps be integrated in a complete shirt, e.g. by laser welding.

Preferably the first electrode, the second electrode, the first electrode lead, the second electrode lead, the first interface contact area and the second in- terface contact area are stitched on the fabric or garment with one or more electrically conductive filaments.

Such stitching allows very flexible shapes of the electrodes, electrode leads and interface contact areas. Furthermore, the fabrication is can be performed in a flexible and reliable way.

According to a preferred embodiment the method further comprises fabricating the first interface contact area and the second interface contact area as a ring, penetrating the ring of the first interface contact area by means of a first cylindrical shaft of the first interface unit, penetrating the ring of the second interface contact area by means of a second cylindrical shaft of the first interface unit, inserting the first cylindrical shaft into a first hollow cylinder of the second interface unit and in- serting the second cylindrical shaft into a second hollow cylinder of the second interface unit.

This is a very efficient fabrication method.

A further preferred step comprises attaching the first interface unit to the second interface unit by means of riveting.

Certain embodiments of the presented system and fabrication method may comprise individual or combined features, method steps or aspects as mentioned above or below with respect to exemplary embodiments.

Advantages of one aspect of the invention may apply to other as- pects of the invention as appropriate.

Other advantageous embodiments are listed in the dependent claims as well as in the description below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof. Such description refers to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. la shows a schematic diagram of a system for measuring physi- ological data and/or motion data of a user according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. lb shows an electronic device of the system of Fig. la in more detail;

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary and simplified cross sectional view of system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows another cross sectional view of the system of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of another system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a cross section taken along A-A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a 3-dimensional view of the system of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 shows a photographic view of the system of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 shows an electrode arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9a shows a front side of a textile composition of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9b shows a back side of a textile composition of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10a shows a front side of another textile composition of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 Ob shows a back side of the textile composition of Fig. 10a; Fig. 11 a shows a front side of another textile composition of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. l ib shows a corresponding back side of the textile composition of Fig. 11a; and Fig. 12 shows method steps of a method for fabricating a system according to embodiments of the invention.

The drawings are not to scale and simplified for ease of illustration purposes.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

FIG. la shows a system 100 for measuring physiological data and/or motion data of a user U. The user U may be e.g. an athlete that wants to monitor his physiological data during training or competition or a patient that wants to monitor this data for treatment and/or surveillance purposes. A garment 10 that is embodied as a shirt is worn by the user U to measure the physiological data and/or the motion data. The physiological data may be in particular electrocardiogram data for performing an electrocardiogram. The motion data may be e.g. the velocity, acceleration, running distance, position and so on of the user U.

The garment 10 has a first electrode 12 and a second electrode 13 which are configured to contact the skin of the user U. The first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 may be in particular used to perform a 1 -channel electrocardio- gram of the user U. Accordingly the first electrode 12 is arranged at a first position 12a and the second electrode 13 is arranged at a second position 13a in a chest area of the garment 10. The garment 10 further comprises a first electrode lead 14 that electrically connects the first electrode 12 to a first interface unit 20 and/or a second interface unit 21. Furthermore, the garment 10 comprises a second electrode lead 16 that electrically connects the second electrode 13 to the first interface unit 20 and/or the second interface unit 21. The first interface unit 20 is arranged on the inner face of the garment 10 towards the skin of the user U and the second interface unit 21 is arranged on the outer face, i.e. an outer face side, of the garment 10. The garment 10 is further equipped with an electronic device 22 that is configured to receive the measured physiological data from the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13.

The first interface unit 20 and the second interface unit 21 are connected to each other by means of a first fastening mechanism as will be described in more detail below. The electronic device 22 is attachable to the second user interface unit 21 by means of a second fastening mechanism which will also be explained in more detail below. The second fastening mechanism is detachable, i.e. the user U may attach the electronic device 22 to the garment 10, e.g. before training, and remove it after the training. This allows e.g. to use one electronic device with many different garments 10, provided the other garments 10 have also the same second fastening mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. lb, the electronic device 22 may comprise a processing unit 22a for processing the measured physiological and or motion data, a memory unit 22b for storing the measured physiological and/or motion data, one or more temperature sensors 22c for measuring the body temperature of the user U and/or the ambient temperature, a global positioning module (GPS) 22d, an accel- erometer 22e for measuring the acceleration during movement of the body of the user U, a gyroscope 22f and an altimeter 22h. Other sensors and functions may be provided to the electronic device 22 as appropriate.

The electronic device 22 may further comprise a transmitter 22g for transmitting the measured physiological and/or motion data to a mobile device 40, e.g. to a smartphone, and to a server 41. The transmitter 22g may transmit the measured physiological and/or motion data in particular via a wireless connection 42, e.g. a Bluetooth connection, to the mobile device 40. The mobile device 40 may have e.g. an application program (app) that may further process the received data, display it for the user and/or forward it to the server 41. Such forwarding may be in particular per- formed via a wide area network 43, in particular the Internet. The mobile device may connect to the wide area network 43 via a connection 44, e.g. a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection or a cellular network connection such as GSM, UMTS, 3G, 4G, 5G connection.

The server 41 may perform an enhanced processing and analysis of the received physiological and motion data. This can be e.g. used by the user U him- self and/or by a trainer or a doctor of the user U.

Embodiments of the invention may also perform a real time transfer of the measured physiological and/or motion data to the server 41. This real time data may be used e.g. for online monitoring of a patient, for online monitoring of an athlete's training by a trainer or for online broadcasting of such data via television sta- tions e.g. during a sports competition.

FIG. 2 and Fig. 3 shows different views of an exemplary embodiment of the garment 10 of Fig. 1. More particularly, Fig. 2 shows an exemplary and simplified cross sectional view and Fig. 3 a corresponding cross sectional view taken along A-A of Fig. 2.

The garment 10 has an outer face 10a and an inner face 10b. The inner face 10b is arranged towards the body of the user U and more particularly, when worn by the user U, contacts the skin 18 of the user U. Furthermore, the first elec- trode 12 contacts the skin 18 of the user U at a first position 12a and the second electrode 13 contacts the skin 18 of the user U at a second position 13a. The first electrode lead 14 extends in a parallel direction with respect to the surface of the skin 18 of the user 1 1 from the first electrode 12 to a first interface contact area 15 (x-direc- tion). Correspondingly, the second electrode lead 16 extends also in a parallel direc- tion with respect to surface of the skin 18 of the user 1 1 from the second electrode 13 to a second interface contact area 17 (x-direction).

The first electrode 12, the second electrode 13, the first electrode lead 14, the second electrode lead 16, the first interface contact area 15 and the second interface contact area 17 may be formed by stitching/embroidering of one or more electrically conductive filaments. The electrically conductive filaments may be embodied as fibers. The first and the second electrode is preferably capable of not only acquiring the heart signal of the user/wearer, but also all the other bodily signals which are necessary for cardiological analysis. The electrically conductive fibers may e.g. be embodied with a plastics core and an electrically conductive coating.

Such an embodiment provides a very reliable and secure electrode and electrode lead arrangement. According to other embodiments, the first electrode 12, the second electrode 13, the first electrode lead 14, the second electrode lead 16, the first interface contact area 15 and the second interface contact area 17 may be formed by adhesion of electrically conductive materials on the garment 10.

The first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16 transmit the measurement signals, in particular the ECG signals, measured by the first elec- 5 trode 12 and the second electrode 13 to the first interface contact area 15 and to the second interface contact area 17 respectively. The first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16 are electrically isolated and shielded from the skin 18 of the user U to avoid disturbances of the measurement signal measured by the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13. The isolation may be performed in various i o ways. According to some embodiments, the electrically conductive filaments may have an electrically isolating coating in the area of the first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 1 . According to other embodiments, an additional electrically isolating layer may be provided on the first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16, i.e. between the first electrode lead 14 and the skin 18 as well as between the

15 second electrode lead 16 and the skin 18 of the user 11. Such isolating layers may be fastened to the garment 10 e.g. by sewing, gluing or laser welding.

The first interface unit 20 is arranged on the inner face 10b of the garment 10, while the second interface unit 21 is arranged on the outer face 10a of the 20 garment 10.

The first interface contact area 15 forms a ring 15a and the second interface contact area 17 forms a ring 17a as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The first interface unit 20 comprises a first cylindrical shaft 25 that penetrates the ring 15a of the first interface contact area 15 in a form-locking 25 way. Furthermore, the first interface unit 20 comprises a second cylindrical shaft 26 that penetrates the ring 17a of the second interface contact area 17 in a form-locking way.

The second interface unit 21 comprises a first hollow cylinder 27 and a second hollow cylinder 28. The first cylindrical shaft 25 is arranged in the first

30 hollow cylinder 27, while the second cylindrical shaft 26 is arranged in the second hollow cylinder 28. It should be noted that while in the embodiment as illustrated with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the rings 15a, 17a, the cylindrical shafts 25, 26 and the hollow cylinders 27, 28 have a circular shape, other embodiments may use other suitable shapes, e.g. a hexagonal form. According to the embodiment of Fig. 2

35 and Fig. 3, the cylindrical shafts 25, 26 and the hollow cylinders 27, 28 are formed form-locking to each other in a plane orthogonal to the cylinder axis. The first interface unit 20 and the second interface unit 21 are connected to each other by means of a first fastening mechanism 30 as indicated in Fig. 2 by double-arrows. Preferably the first fastening mechanism 30 is a non-detachable or in other words permanent fastening mechanism. In the example as illustrated in Fig. 2, the first fastening mechanism 30 could be e.g. implemented by means of adhesive bonding, e.g. by applying an adhesive between the cylindrical shafts 25, 26 and the hollow cylinders 27, 28. Another preferred mechanism that could be used is riveting, in particular blind riveting. Yet another suitable mechanism could be welding.

According to embodiments the first interface unit 20 may be at- tached to the garment 10 e.g. by adhesion techniques, injection moulding techniques or casting techniques.

The electronic device 22 is attached to the second user interface unit 21 by means of a second fastening mechanism 31. The second fastening mechanism 31 is detachable, i.e. the user can e.g. attach the electronic device 22 on the garment 10 and more particularly on the second user interface unit 21 e.g. before training and detach it afterwards. In the example as shown in Fig. 2 the second fastening mechanism 31 could be e.g. a magnetic lock mechanism. According to such an embodiment, both the electronic device 22 and the second interface unit 21 may comprise a magnet with different polarity that provide a magnetic force on each other. According to other preferred embodiments, the second fasting mechanism may be e.g. a bayonet screw joint as will be described in more detail below. The electronic device 22 comprises an electronic unit 32, e.g. an integrated circuit, that shall receive and process measurement signals, in particular electrocardiogram signals, from the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13. For this the second interface unit 21 and the first interface unit 20 establish an electrical adapter that provides an electrical coupling between the first interface contact area 15 and the electronic device 22 as well as between the second interface contact area 17 and the electronic device 22. The electrical coupling and the corresponding electrical signals path may be embodied in various ways by any suitable electrical connection technology, e.g. by electrical cables and/or electrically conductive coatings. In the example of Fig. 2, the first cylindrical shaft 25 and the second cylindrical shaft 26 may comprise electrically conductive coatings 33 that provide on the one hand an electrical connection to the first interface contact area 15 and the second interface contact area 17 respectively. On the other hand the coatings 33 are electrically connected to an electrical connection 34 that connects the electrically conductive coatings 33 with the electronic circuit 32 of the electronic device 22. Fur- thermore, the first hollow cylinder 27 and the second hollow cylinder 28 may comprise inner electrically conductive coatings 35. The electrical connection 34 may be e.g. implemented by electrical cables or other electrically conductive paths.

In operation, the electrical measurement signals measured by the first electrode 12 are transmitted via the first electrode lead 14, the first interface contact area 15, the electrical coatings 33, 35 of the first cylindrical shaft 25 and the first hollow cylinder 27 and via the electrical connection 34 to the electronic circuit 32 of the electronic device 22. Likewise, the electrical measurement signals measured by the second electrode 13 are transmitted via the second electrode lead 16, the second interface contact area 17, the electrical coatings 33, 35 of the second cylindrical shaft 26 and the second hollow cylinder 28 and via the electrical connection 34 to the electronic circuit 32 of the electronic device 22.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of a system 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 400 is illustrated without a garment.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the system 400 that comprises a second interface unit 21 and an electronic device 22. The distance di could be e.g. 65 mm.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section taken along A-A of Fig. 4. In this illustration the second interface unit 21 and the electronic device 22 are shown apart from the first interface unit 21 or in other words in a non-connected state, while the second interface unit 21 and the electronic device 22 are shown in a connected state. More particularly, the electronic device 22 is arranged within an opening 51 of the second interface unit 21 by means of a bayonet screw joint 50. The first interface unit 21 has a first cylindrical shaft 25 and a second cylindrical shaft 26 that can be pushed/inserted into a first hollow cylinder 27 and a second hollow cylinder 28 of the second interface unit respectively. The distance d₂ could be e.g. 35 mm and the distance d₃ could be e.g. 30 mm. The first cylindrical shaft 25 and the second cylindrical shaft 26 comprise electrically conductive coatings 33 and the first hollow cylinder 27 and the second hollow cylinder 28 comprise inner electrically conductive coatings 35. The coatings 33, 35 are electrically connected via an electrical connection 34, e.g. a small cable to contacts 34a of the electronic circuit 32 of the electronic device 22. The elec- trical connection 34 is indicated in Fig. 5 by dotted lines. According to this embodiment the electronic device 22 can be attached and detached to the first interface unit 21 by means of the bayonet screw joint 50. Accordingly, for attaching the electronic device 22 to the second interface unit 21, the user inserts or pushes the electronic device 22 into the opening 51 of the second interface unit 21 and rotates it e.g. in a clockwise direction in order to securely fasten or lock it. Correspondingly, for detaching the electronic device 22 from the second interface unit 21, the user rotates the electronic device 22 in the counter-clockwise direction and pulls it out of the opening 51 of the second interface unit 21. There may be various was for implementing the bayonet screw joint 50. A more detailed descrip- tion is omitted as this is known to a skilled person in the art.

. 6 shows a 3-dimensional view of the system 400.

Fig. 7 shows a photographic view of the system 400, wherein the first interface unit 20 is connected to the second interface unit 21 and the second interface unit 21 is connected to the electronic device 22. Also in this photograph the garment is not shown. In a final mounted state the garment would be placed between the first interface unit 20 and the second interface unit 21 as described with reference to Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 shows an electrode arrangement 800 according to another embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16 are not straight as in the embodiment of Fig. 2 and 3. Rather they have a curved form. Generally the form of the electrode leads 14, 16 may be adapted to the respective needs of the geometry and electrode position as needed.

Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b illustrate a more detailed view of a textile composition of the garment 10. Fig. 9a shows a front side of the garment 10 and Fig. 9b a corresponding back side of the garment 10. The front side is supposed to be worn at the chest/belly side of the user, while the backside is supposed to be worn on the back of the user. The garment 10 is embodied as shirt and may be in particular a sports shirt.

The garment 10 is formed by a plurality of garment parts. These garments parts may be prefabricated and subsequently tied together or put together to form the garment/shirt 10. The garment parts include a sensory part 901 that carries the first electrode 12, the second electrode 13, first electrode lead 14, the second electrode lead 16, the first interface contact area 15 and the second interface contact area 17.

According to other embodiments, the sensory part 901 may only 5 carry the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 and a part of the first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16, while the remaining parts of the first electrode lead 14 and the second electrode lead 16 as well as the first interface contact area 15 and the second interface contact area 17 are arranged outside the sensory part 901. This could be e.g. useful for specific applications where the first interface unit i o 20, the second interface unit 21 and the electronic device 22 need to be placed e.g. on the backside of the user.

The sensory part 901 is arranged in a front area 902 of the garment 10. More particularly, in this example it is arranged in a chest area of the garment 10. The front area 902 is generally understood as an area of the garment 10 that is suita-

15 ble to place the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 to perform physiological measurements of the user, in particular ECG measurements. The chest area is generally understood as an area of the garment 10 that is adapted to face the chest of the user/wearer. In particular, the chest area may be any area of the chest that is suitable to place the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 to perform physiological

20 measurements of the user. For 1 -phase electrocardiogram measurements the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 may be in particular placed in a lower area of the chest. According to embodiments, further electrodes may be placed in the sensory part 901. For 3 -phase electrocardiogram measurements additional electrodes may be placed in particular in a lower torso area, more particularly in an area of the belly of 5 the user/wearer.

The garment 10 further comprises a plurality of compression parts 903 configured to perform a compression on the body of the user/wearer. 0 The garment 10 further comprises a first elastic part 911 in a left axilla area 914 below a left sleeve 920 of the garment 10 and a second elastic part 912 in a right axilla area 915 below a right sleeve 921 of the garment 10.

Furthermore, a third elastic part 913 is arranged in a back area 916 of the backside of the garment 10 as shown in Fig. 9b. The third elastic part 913 is 5 symmetrically arranged with respect to the first elastic part 911 and the second elastic part 912. In other words, as illustrated in Fig. 9b, it is arranged centrally in the middle between the first elastic part 91 1 and the second elastic part 912. The first elastic part 911, the second elastic part 912 and the third elastic part 913 are illustrated with a zig zag pattern fill.

As illustrated in Fig. 9b, the third elastic part 913 has an elongated shape that extends from a neck area 918 in a direction parallel to the backbone of the user/wearer of the garment 10, i.e. in the negative z-direction as shown in Fig. 9b. The backbone 917 of the user/wearer is indicated by a dotted line. Preferably the elongated shape of the elastic part 913 is tapered off from the neck area 918 to a lower back area 919. In other words, the width w of the elongated shape of the third elastic area 913 is decreasing from the neck area 918 to the lower back area 919. As an example, the width wl in the neck area 918 is greater than the width w2 in the lower back area 919.

The sensory part 901 of the garment 10 and the compression parts 903 of the garment 10 are configured to exert a compression on the body of the user/wearer of the garment 10. This establishes a kind of rack or skeleton of fixed/sta- ble anchor points/anchor areas around the sensory part 901. Concurrently the first, the second and the third elastic part act 911, 912, 913 serve as elastic intermediate or elastic damper between these anchor points/anchor areas and enable a movement of the body of the user/wearer while the sensory part 901 is substantially kept in stable position with respect to the body of the user. This facilitates high quality measure- ment signals.

According to embodiments, the Young's moduli of the first elastic part 911, the second elastic part 912 and the third elastic part 913 are lower than the Young^'s moduli of the compression parts 903 and lower than the Young's modulus of the sensory part 901.

Preferably the Young's moduli of the first elastic part 911, the second elastic part 912 and the third elastic part 913 are at least 10% lower, and even more preferably at least 20% lower, than the Young's moduli of the compression parts 903 and the Young' s modulus of the sensory part 901.

Such design of the material properties by means of the Young^' s modulus provides a particularly advantageous interaction of the compression parts 903, the sensory part 901 and the elastic parts 911, 912 and 913 that facilitates a stable position of the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 with sufficient contact pressure despite movements of the user.

According to embodiments, the Young's moduli of the first elastic part 911, the second elastic part 912, the third elastic part 913, the sensory part 901 and the compression parts 903 are configured such that the garment 10 provides at least a predetermined minimum body pressure on the body of the user within the areas of the compression parts 903. The predetermined minimum body pressure may be preferably at least 10 mmHG, in particular at least 20 mmHG.

Preferably the garment 10 is configured such to provide at least a predetermined minimum contact pressure of 10 mmHG and even more preferably of more than 20 mmHG, on the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13.

Fig. 10a and Fig. 10b illustrate a more detailed view of a textile composition of the garment 10 according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10a shows a front side of the garment 10 and Fig. 10b a corresponding back side of the garment 10. According to the embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 10a and 10b, the sensory part 901 extends over the whole length of the front side of the garment 10. Fig. 11 a and Fig. l ib illustrate a more detailed view of a textile composition of the garment 10 according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 1a shows a front side of the garment 10 and Fig. 1 lb a corresponding back side of the garment 10. According to the embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 1 la and l ib, the sensory part 901 is configured to perform 3 -phase electrocardiogram measure- ments. Accordingly, the garment 10 of Fig. 11a comprises a third electrode 950 and a fourth electrode 951. Furthermore, the garment 10 of Fig. 10 comprises a third electrode lead 952 configured to electrically connect the third electrode 950 to a third interface contact area 954 and a fourth electrode lead 953 configured to electrically connect the fourth electrode 951 to a fourth interface contact area 955.

According to this embodiment the first elastic part 911 and the second elastic part 912 have a more elongated shape in the negative z-direction. In other words, the first elastic part 911 and the second elastic part 912 are longer in the nega- tive-z-direction than in the embodiments of Fig. 9a, 9b. This further facilitates a stable electrode position, in particular of the third electrode 150 and the fourth electrode 151.

The backside of Fig. l ib comprises a compression part 903 that extends over the whole length of the backside of the garment 10.

According to a preferred embodiment, the Young's modulus of the third elastic part 913 is lower in a x-direction perpendicular to the backbone 917 of the user than in the z-direction parallel to the backbone 917 of the user/wearer. According to a further preferred embodiment, the Young's modulus of the first and the second elastic part 91 1, 912 is lower in the z-direction parallel to the backbone 917 of the user than in the x-direction perpendicular to the backbone 917 of the user/wearer.

Fig. 12 shows method steps of a method 1200 for fabricating a system according to embodiments of the invention.

At a step 1210, a fabric having an outer face and an inner face is provided. The fabric may be already a complete garment, e.g. a shirt, or a part of a garment, in particular a chest part of a garment that shall be subsequently used to form a complete garment together with other prefabricated fabrics.

At a step 1220, a first electrode is fabricated, in particular stitched, at the fabric.

At a step 1230, a first electrode lead and a first interface contact area are fabricated, in particular stitched, at the fabric.

At a step 1240, a second electrode is fabricated, in particular stitched, at the fabric.

At a step 1250, a second electrode lead and a second interface con- tact area are fabricated, in particular stitched, at the fabric.

At a step 1260, a first interface unit is provided at the inner face of the fabric.

At a step 1270, a second interface unit is provided at the outer face of the fabric.

At a step 1280, the first interface unit is attached and fastened to the second interface unit through the fabric by means of a first fastening mechanism.

The steps 1220-1250 may be performed in particular by stitching on the fabric or garment with one or more electrically conductive filaments.

The steps 1220 and 1240 may comprises fabricating the first interface contact area and the second interface contact area as a ring, e.g. as the rings 15a and 17a of Fig. 3. With reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the step 1280 may comprise then penetrating the ring 15a of the first interface contact area 15 by means of the first cylindrical shaft 25 of the first interface unit 20 and penetrating the ring 17a of the second interface contact area 17 by means of the second cylindrical shaft 26 of the first interface unit 20. This may be e.g. performed by pushing the cylindrical shafts 25, 26 through the garment material arranged inside the rings 15a, 17a.

Furthermore, the step 1280 may comprise inserting, e.g. pushing, the first cylindrical shaft 25 through the ring 15a into the first hollow cylinder 27 and inserting, e.g. pushing, the second cylindrical shaft 26 through the ring 17a into the second hollow cylinder 28.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. System for measuring physiological data and/or motion data of a user, the system comprising:

a garment (10) having

an outer face (10a);

an inner face (10b);

a first electrode (12) configured to contact the skin (18) of the user at a first position (12a);

a second electrode (13) configured to contact the skin (18) of the user at a second position (13a);

a first electrode lead (14) configured to electrically connect the first electrode (12) to a first interface contact area (15); and

a second electrode lead (16) configured to electrically connect the second electrode (13) to a second interface contact area (17);

a first interface unit (20) arranged on the inner face (10b) of the garment (10);

a second interface unit (21) arranged on the outer face (10a) of the garment (10); and

an electronic device (22) configured to receive measured physiological data via the second interface unit (21);

wherein

the first interface unit (20) and the second interface unit (21) are connected to each other by means of a first fastening mechanism (30);

the electronic device (22) is attachable to the second user interface unit (21) by means of a second fastening mechanism (31, 50), the second fastening mechanism being detachable; and

the second interface unit (21) is adapted to provide an electrical coupling between the first interface contact area (15) and the electronic device (22) and between the second interface contact area (17) and the electronic device (22).

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode (12), the second electrode (13), the first electrode lead (14), the second electrode lead (16), the first interface contact area (15) and/or the second interface contact area (17) are formed by stitching of one or more electrically conductive filaments.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first fastening mechanism (30) is a riveting mechanism, in particular a blind riveting mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first fastening 5 mechanism (30) is a welding mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first fastening mechanism (30) is an adhesive bonding mechanism. o 6. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein

the first interface contact area (15) and the second interface contact area (17) each form a ring;

the first interface unit (20) comprises a first cylindrical shaft (25) adapted to penetrate the ring of the first interface contact area (15) and a second5 cylindrical shaft (26) adapted to penetrate the ring of the second interface contact area (17); and

the second interface unit (21) comprises a first hollow cylinder

(27) adapted to receive the first cylindrical shaft (26) and a second hollow cylinder

(28) adapted to receive the second cylindrical shaft (26).

0

7. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein

the first interface unit (20) and the second interface unit (21) are electrically connected to the first interface contact area (15) and to the second interface contact area (17).

5

8. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the second fastening mechanism (50) is a bayonet screw joint.

9. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the second o fastening mechanism is a magnetic lock mechanism (31).

10. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the surface of the first and the second interface unit (20, 21) consists of a washable material.

5

1 1. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or the second interface unit (20, 21) comprise, in particular consist of, a plastics material.

12. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or the second interface unit (20, 21) comprise a composition of silicon and rubber.

13. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrode (12) and the second electrode (13) are configured to perform a 1 -phase electrocardiogram of the user.

14. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first interface unit (20) and the second interface unit (21) are adapted to mechanically stabilize the position of the first electrode (12) and the second electrode (13) with respect to the body of the user.

15. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrode lead (14) and the second electrode lead (16) are adapted to be electrically isolated and/or shielded.

16. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the garment (10) is configured to perform a compression, in particular a gradient compression, on the body of the user.

17. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic device (22) comprises:

a processing unit (22a);

a memory unit (22b) for storing the measured physiological and/or motion data;

a transmitter (22g) for transmitting the measured physiological and/or motion data to a mobile device and/or a server;

one or more temperature sensors (22c) for measuring the body tem- perature of the user and/or the ambient temperature;

a global positioning module (GPS) (22d);

an accelerometer (22e); an altimeter (22 h); and/or

a gyroscope (22f).

18. A garment for a system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the garment (10) comprising:

an outer face (10a);

an inner face (10b);

a second interface unit (21) arranged on the outer face (10a) of the garment (10); wherein

the second user interface unit is adapted to provide a second fastening mechanism for attaching an electronic device, the second fastening mechanism being detachable; and

19. An electronic device for a system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the electronic device (22) being configured to receive measured physiological data of a user via the second interface unit (21), wherein the electronic device (20) is attachable to the second user interface unit (21) by means of the second fastening mechanism (31 , 50), the second fastening mechanism being detachable and wherein the electronic device (22) comprises one or more contacts to receive, when attached to the second interface unit (21), measured physiological data from the first electrode (12) and from the second electrode (13) via the second interface unit (21).

20. A method for fabricating a garment, the method comprising: providing a fabric (10), the fabric having an outer face (10a) and an inner face (10b;

fabricating a first electrode (12) at the fabric, the first electrode being configured to contact the skin (18) of a user at a first position;

fabricating a first electrode lead (14) and a first interface contact area (15) at the fabric, the first electrode lead being configured to electrically connect the first electrode (12) to the first interface contact area (15);

fabricating a second electrode (13) at the fabric, the second electrode being configured to contact the skin (189 of the user at a second position;

fabricating a second electrode lead (16) and a second interface contact area (17) at the fabric, the second electrode lead being configured to electrically connect the second electrode (13) to the second interface contact area (17);

providing a first interface unit (20) at the inner face of the fabric;

providing a second interface unit (21) at the outer face of the fabric;

attaching the first interface unit to the second interface unit through the fabric by means of a first fastening mechanism (30);

wherein

the second interface unit (21 ) provides

a second, detachable fastening mechanism (31, 50) for an electronic device (22)and;

an electrical coupling for electrically coupling the first interface contact area (15) and the electronic device (22) and the second interface contact area (17) and the electronic device (22).

21. The method of claim 20, comprising

stitching the first electrode (12), the second electrode (13), the first electrode lead (14), the second electrode lead (16), the first interface contact area (15) and/or the second interface contact area (17) with one or more electrically conductive filaments.

22. The method of claim 20 or claim 21, comprising fabricating the first interface contact area (15) and the second interface contact area (17) as a ring;

penetrating the ring of the first interface contact area by means of a first cylindrical shaft (25) of the first interface unit;

5 penetrating the ring of the second interface contact area by means of a second cylindrical shaft (26) of the first interface unit;

inserting the first cylindrical shaft (25) into a first hollow cylinder (27) of the second interface unit; and

inserting the second cylindrical shaft (26) into a second hollow o cylinder (28) of the second interface unit.

23. The method of any of the claims 20-22, comprising

attaching the first interface unit (20) to the second interface unit

(21) by means of riveting.

5

24. The method of any of the claims 20-23, comprising

attaching the first interface unit (20) to the second interface unit

(21) by means of welding, in particular laser welding or ultrasonic welding.

25. The method of any of the claims 20-24, comprising

o attaching the first interface unit (20) to the second interface unit

(21) by means of adhesive bonding.

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