Wearable medical system with stretch-cable assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9402988-B2
Application number	US-201414510081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	May 6, 2014
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A Wearable Medical System includes a support structure that is configured to be worn by a person. The WMS also includes an electronics module, a cable assembly, and at least one electrode that can be configured to be coupled to the support structure. The cable assembly includes a base member and a cable coupled to the base member. The support structure can be dimensioned relative to the person's body to be worn with tension, and be resiliently stretched under the tension. The stretching of the support structure can stretch the base member of the cable assembly, thus increasing the effective length of the cable, while reducing or even eliminating slack in the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A Wearable Medical System (WMS), comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a person, the support structure dimensioned relative to a body of the person to be so worn with nonzero tension, the support structure being resiliently stretched under the tension when so worn;
an electronics module configured to be coupled to the support structure;
a cable assembly comprising:
a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the base member configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from the support structure, the base member being resiliently stretched by at least 4% along the main direction when the base member is so coupled and the support structure is so worn; and
a cable coupled to the base member, the cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member the cable including two nodes;

a first electrode configured to be physically coupled to a skin of the person when the support structure is so worn, the first electrode being electrically coupled to the cable between the two nodes; and
a second electrode electrically coupled to the cable between the two nodes, and
in which the electronics module becomes coupled electrically with the skin of the person via the cable and via the first electrode when the base member is coupled to the support structure and the support structure is so worn.

2. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the electronics module includes an energy storage module configured to store electrical energy, and
the energy is configured to be delivered via the cable and via the first electrode to the person's skin when the support structure is so worn and the base member is coupled to the support structure.

3. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the first electrode is physically attached to the support structure.

4. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the first electrode is physically attached to the support structure, and
the second electrode can be coupled to the support structure but is not permanently physically attached to the support structure.

5. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the cable is arranged in a substantially serpentine manner with respect to the main direction.

6. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the cable assembly includes a securing mechanism configured to couple the base member to the support structure.

7. The WMS of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cloth guard, and
in which at least a portion of the cable assembly is within the cloth guard.

8. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the support structure includes an electronics pocket, and
the electronics module is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being inserted in the electronics pocket.

9. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the support structure includes an electrode pocket, and
the first electrode is configured to be coupled to the support structure by being received in the electrode pocket.

10. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the first electrode and the second electrode are attached to the cable.

11. The WMS of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mechanical contact, and
in which the cable assembly is configured to become coupled physically coupled with the first electrode or with the electronics module via the mechanical contact.

12. The WMS of claim 11 , in which
the mechanical contact is a snap contact.

13. The WMS of claim 1 , further comprising:
an access circuit coupled between the electronics module and the first electrode.

14. The WMS of claim 1 , further comprising:
an access circuit coupled between the cable and the first electrode.

15. The WMS of claim 14 , in which
the access circuit includes a resistor.

16. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the support structure has a buttonhole,
the first electrode is attached to the cable assembly, and
the first electrode becomes coupled to the support structure by passing through the buttonhole.

17. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the cable assembly includes a second cable coupled to the base member.

18. The WMS of claim 17 , further comprising:
an access circuit coupled between the cable and the first electrode.

19. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the first electrode is attached to the cable.

20. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the electronics module is attached to the cable.

21. The WMS of claim 20 , in which
the first electrode is attached to the cable.

22. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the base member includes an elastic material.

23. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the base member includes a strand of an elastic material, and
the cable is attached to the strand at a plurality of points.

24. The WMS of claim 1 , further comprising:
attachment implements that attach the cable to the base member.

25. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the base member includes a fabric.

26. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the base member includes an elastomer.

27. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
at least a portion of the cable is inside the base member.

28. The WMS of claim 1 , in which
the base member includes two sheets of material sandwiching the cable and pressed against each other.

29. The WMS of claim 28 , in which
the base member further includes an additional structure between the two sheets of material.

30. The WMS of claim 29 , in which
the additional structure is made of film.

31. The WMS of claim 29 , in which
the additional structure forms a lattice and a cable trace superimposed on the lattice, and
the cable is attached to the additional structure along the cable trace.

32. The WMS of claim 28 , in which
the base member includes at least two perforations, and
the cable passes between the two perforations.

33. A Wearable Medical System (WMS), comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a person, the support structure dimensioned relative to a body of the person to be so worn with nonzero tension, the support structure being resiliently stretched under the tension when so worn;
an electronics module configured to be coupled to the support structure;
an electrode configured to be physically coupled to a skin of the person when the support structure is so worn;
a cable assembly comprising:
a base member that is substantially elongate along a main direction, the base member configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from the support structure, the base member being resiliently stretched by at least 4% along the main direction when the base member is so coupled and the support structure is so worn;
a first cable coupled to the base member, the first cable arranged substantially along the main direction with respect to the base member; and

an access circuit coupled between the electronics module and the electrode, or coupled between the first cable and the electrode, and
in which the electronics module becomes coupled electrically with the skin of the person via the first cable and via the electrode when the base member is coupled to the support structure and the support structure is so worn.

34. The WMS of claim 33 , in which
the electronics module includes an energy storage module configured to store electrical energy, and
the energy is configured to be delivered via the first cable and via the electrode to the person's skin whe

Assignees

• West Affum Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Buchanan Robert Reuben
• Finch David Peter
• Meeker Dallas Eugene
• Gustavson Laura Marie
• Finney Daniel James
• Foshee Jr Phillip Dewey
• Medema Douglas Keith
• Cowan Kenneth F
• Mcewen Karen Elizabeth
• Kavounas Gregory T

Classifications

• H04B1/3827

  Portable transceivers · CPC title

• A61N1/0492

  Patch electrodes (A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/3904

  External heart defibrillators [EHD] · CPC title

• A61N1/0484 Primary

  Garment electrodes worn by the patient · CPC title

• A61B5/6831

  Straps, bands or harnesses · CPC title