Physiological condition sensing and monitoring arrangement built into a smart compression vest

Abstract

Physiological condition sensing and monitoring arrangement built into a smart compression vest (30), having sensing electrodes and comprising at an optical sensor, an electronic central unit with a battery- powered power supply, and the central unit is connected to a remote processing unit via a wireless communication link, and a chest strap (40) is attached to the bottom of the smart compression vest (30) that has a multilayer laminated structure, in which a sensor unit (11) containing the optical sensor is attached to an elastic base fabric (44). On the elastic base fabric (44) there are at least two electrodes (23, 24) spaced apart from one another and secured thereto, which are made of a fabric of conductive fibers, and the chest strap (40) has an inner layer (42) made of an elastic material with fibers spaced apart from one another and have good adhesion to the human body. A window (25) is provided in front of the optical sensor; furthermore, the central unit (10) is arranged on the rear portion (36) of the smart compression vest (30) and attached to its base fabric, and comprises a GPS unit (13), an UWB unit (15) for indoor positioning, an IMU unit (17) equipped with a gyroscope and an accelerometer, and a battery (22) housed in a pocket (58) in the rear section (36), wherein the whole arrangement with the smart compression vest (30) is waterproof and washable.

Description

[0001] Physiological condition sensing and monitoring arrangement built into a smart compression vest

[0002] The invention relates to a physiological condition sensing and monitoring arrangement built into a smart compression vest, which includes a GPS unit, an UWB unit for indoor positioning, and at least one optical sensor, and has an electronic central unit with a battery-powered power supply, and the central unit is connected to a remote processing unit via a wireless communication link, and comprises a chest strap attached to the bottom of the smart compression vest, wherein the chest strap comprises a pair of spaced sensor electrodes attached thereto, as well as the optical sensor, and a window is arranged in front of the optical sensor.

[0003] Such an arrangement is described in the publication GB 2.621.011 Al, which describes a chest patch or garment capable of sensing the wearer's key physiological parameters and numerous other external parameters and transmitting them to a remote location in real time. However, in terms of its details, the solution is unable to fully achieve these objectives because its central electronic unit is secured in a removable pouch on a strap arranged directly beneath the chest, which is uncomfortable during exercise, and this arrangement does not ensure that the electrodes remain stable and undisturbed by body movement, providing information that accurately reflects the athlete's condition and can be compared with similar data at a later time.

[0004] US 117224156B2 describes a device configuration with electrodes positioned at various heights on the chest, which monitors and checks the physiological condition of the subject during exercise and, by processing the detected signals, draws conclusions about the current physiological state, which can be used, for example, to increase the intensity of training.

[0005] The publication primarily deals with the acquisition, processing, and evaluation of signals; however, it does not address how to reliably and stably acquire physiological parameters or how to position the sensors on the body so that their presence does not hinder movement and so that the sensors provide stable signals even during movement.

[0006] If sensors must be placed in sportswear, numerous problems arise regarding the reliable acquisition of signals and comfortable wear. Among these, it is worth noting that clothing tends to shift on the body, and the quality of contact between the electrodes and the body changes during movement, which can result in noise, inaccuracies, and measurement interruptions.

[0007] A further problem arises from the fact that the presence of electronic components on the clothing makes it uncomfortable to wear, and the electronic devices must be removed when the clothing iswashed; furthermore, repeated installation and removal is tedious, and moving the wires can lead to their breakage or damage.

[0008] These difficulties are exacerbated by the fact that a detachable connection must be established between the battery providing power and the device's electronic unit simply because the battery needs to be charged, and the existence of detachable connections reduces reliability and practically precludes washability.

[0009] Monitoring the athlete's condition is more accurate and meaningful the more parameters can be monitored and detected, and this includes not only ECG signals, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels, but also numerous other parameters, including the person's body posture, acceleration, position, speed, and several other important parameters.

[0010] The need for monitoring and control during exercise would require a wireless connection to status monitoring units placed on the athlete's body.

[0011] Meeting the requirements outlined here is a significant challenge, as electronic units remain sensitive to external influences— such as the presence of water— despite advances in miniaturization, and wearing rigid circuit boards on the body is uncomfortable. Perhaps the greatest technical challenge lies in the design and placement on the body of sensor electrodes that are not attached to the skin, such as the self-adhesive electrodes used in 24-hour studies, because their presence restricts the athlete's freedom of movement and causes discomfort.

[0012] There is a significant unmet need for stable sensor electrodes integrated into clothing.

[0013] The objective of the invention is to create a configuration that can be used by both male and female athletes and eliminates or significantly alleviates the problems outlined here.

[0014] The solution according to the invention is described in the attached claims.

[0015] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and examples of implementation. In the drawing:

[0016] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of the arrangement according to the invention;

[0017] Figure 2 shows the female smart compression vest used in the arrangement of the invention as worn on the body;

[0018] Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the back of the smart compression vest;

[0019] Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, showing the front side of the smart compression vest;

[0020] Figures 5b-5e show the individual layers of the chest harness;

[0021] Figure 5a shows the strip 53 separately;

[0022] Figure 5f is a sketch showing the assemblies attached to the base fabric 44;Figure 6 shows the assembly of the electrodes in an exploded and distorted view;

[0023] Figure 6b shows the configuration of the mesh-structured disc 52;

[0024] Figure 6c shows the U-shaped arrangement of strip 54 covering the wire 46 at the edge 37; and Figure 7 is a sketch illustrating the spatial arrangement of the electronic units.

[0025] Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the arrangement according to the invention of the electronic units placed in a smart compression vest, which comprises a central unit 10, a sensor unit 11 connected by wires to the central unit 10, and a remote processing and evaluation unit 12 in wireless communication with the central unit 10. The central unit 10 forms a self-contained structural unit and includes a GPS unit 13, which determines the current position and is equipped with a small antenna 14, and a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) unit 15 for indoor positioning, which is equipped with another antenna 16. These units are of known design and do not require detailed description.

[0026] In addition, an IMU unit 17 (Inertial Measurement Unit) has been installed in the central unit 10; this contains a gyroscope and an accelerometer, which enable the precise measurement of motion, orientation, and dynamics. The IMU unit 17 can optionally be integrated with a magnetometer, commonly referred to by the abbreviation MAG. The combination of the IMU and MAG is a widely used technology for precise positioning, particularly in navigation systems, robotics, and drones. The IMU is capable of precisely measuring an object's motion and orientation, while the magnetometer measures the surrounding magnetic field, thereby aiding in navigation and direction determination.

[0027] Unit 18 has been separately illustrated that receives and processes the signals from the various sensors located within and connected to the sensor unit 11. Control electronics 20 receives the signals provided by the aforementioned units and converts them into sequential signal sequences, which are then transmitted via a wireless communication link to a remote processing unit 12, and from there receive signals containing instructions. Power is supplied to the central unit 10 via a wireless connection; specifically, a large-surface-area receiver 21 having an appropriate flat coil mounted above the circuit board of the central unit 10 and coupled thereto. Directly behind the receiver 21, a battery 22 can be placed in a pocket of the smart compression vest referred also to as "sports vest" which is designed to have a transmitter coil electromagnetically coupled to the coil of the receiver 21, and through the electromagnetic connection established between these coils, the energy stored in the battery 22 provides the power supply necessary for the operation of the central unit 10. This solution eliminates the need for any wired connection to supply the central unit 10, which would otherwise complicate or even prevent the washability and sealed integrity of the sports vest.The sensor unit 11 is located directly near the sensors in a specially designed chest strap and establishes a connection with electrodes 23, 24 also integrally built in the chest strap and primarily designed to detect ECG signals— being sensors for measuring the biopotential that examines the heart's electrical signals. With two measurement points (a sampling point and a reference point) a single ECG measurement channel is provided to determine the heart rate and the variability thereof.

[0028] The sensor unit 11 contains at least one optical sensor (not shown separately in the drawing), which does not come into direct contact with the skin; however, a window is provided on the sensor unit 11 for this sensor, and corresponding cutouts are also present in the chest strap. One of the functions of the optical sensor is to measure changes in subcutaneous blood circulation by analyzing the reflection or transmission of light. This method is frequently used to determine heart rate, heart rhythm, and other parameters related to the circulatory system, notably blood oxygen levels, which play a particularly important role in sports diagnostics as they help evaluate athletes' performance, monitor training effectiveness, and develop personalized training plans.

[0029] Skin surface temperature can also be measured in optical way, which is based on the temperaturedependent reflection of infrared light. The number of sensors and / or units monitoring and / or measuring various physiological conditions, whether located within or connected to the central unit 10, is not limited to the units listed here; and their number can be expanded depending on the nature of the sport or other requirements, using the principles and installation methods described here.

[0030] Without claiming to be exhaustive, other units can be mentioned inkling that measures lung expansion and determines respiratory rate, which can be used to determine how much oxygen the body takes in and utilizes. Another element and indicator are endurance performance that expresses movement efficiency under submaximal load. Energy efficiency refers to the efficiency of energy utilization and can be expressed by the oxygen uptake value at submaximal load. Sensors that measure lung expansion use various technologies to track respiratory movements, such as flexible expansion sensors.

[0031] Another option is the measurement of vital capacity, which refers to the maximum volume of air stored in the lungs. Measuring vital capacity is an important aspect of sports diagnostics, as it provides valuable information regarding athletes' respiratory systems and physical condition.

[0032] Another option is to measure body composition which helps determining body fat percentage, muscle mass, and other components. The various methods used for body composition analysis help understand an individual's health, fitness, and nutritional needs.A portion of the optional measurements can be performed using an appropriate strain gauge sensor built into the chest strap. Such a sensor is commercially available under the name C-Stretch™; it is flexible and designed to measure strain (expansion) around the chest when attached to the body. Since the volume of the chest changes during breathing, the sensor converts such mechanical changes (stretching or contraction) into electrical signals that represent the corresponding changes in lung volume.

[0033] The conditions for the proper functioning of the electronic units are diverse. The most important condition is that the athlete's free movement must not be hindered in any way, and indeed, their presence should not even be noticeable. From a sensing perspective, it is essential that the athlete's movement does not interfere with the sensing process; the movement must not generate noise or cause sensing uncertainties— in other words, it must be stable and reliable eliminating motion artifacts. This also includes the requirement that the chest strap remains suitable for repeated use, meaning that the stability must be maintained throughout repeated use. Reusability requires washing and cleaning, which initially seemed like an almost impossible task given the presence of sensors and electronic components in the chest strap. Last but not least, the smart compression vest must also be comfortable to wear as a piece of clothing, meaning it must allow the body to breathe, wick away moisture, and remain comfortable and securely in place on the body even during physical activity. These requirements apply equally to both men's and women's versions, although it is more difficult to meet these requirements in the women's version.

[0034] Reference is made now to Figure 2, which shows the women's version of the smart compression vest 30 according to the invention. In terms of its function, the smart compression vest 30 can also be considered a sports top; the term "vest" emphasizes its function of fitting snugly to the body. The smart compression vest 30 is made of interlock double-knit fabric, preferably composed of fibers containing a blend of 73% polyamide and 27% elastane. An example of such a fabric is the product marketed under the trade name "Axel" by the company Sofileta, which is a highly elastic, stretch fabric with a characteristic weight of 190 g / m2. The structure consists of laser-cut parts that are assembled using heat-activated, double-sided adhesive films and a heat press, and are further reinforced with stitching where necessary. This material possesses the necessary elasticity, as well as moisture-wicking and moisture-removing properties.

[0035] The smart compression vest 30 comprises two breast cups 31, 32, a circumferential chest strap 40 positioned directly below them, shoulder straps 33, 34, and a bottom-opening zipper 35 to facilitate putting on and taking off. The edges of the material of the smart compression vest 30 are covered by athin trim 37. A surface 38 in the middle of the smart compression vest 30 can be used for decoration, which is not considered an essential part of the structure according to the invention.

[0036] The shoulder straps 33, 34 on the back side, which are hidden in Figure 2, connect to a rear portion 36 shown in Figure 3, which tapers continuously from top to bottom in the illustrated embodiment and connects to the central rear portion of the chest strap 40. The central unit 10 is arranged in the upper, middle portion of the smart compression vest 30. Figure 4 shows a front view of the chest strap 40 on a reduced scale compared to Figure 3. The difference from the illustration shown in Figure 2 is that, in addition to the chest strap 30, path 41' of the multiple special wiring 41 connecting the sensor unit 11 to the central unit 10 has also been indicated partly in a state placed on the edge 37 but before the wires are covered. Figures 3 and 4 show exploded schematic views of the layers required for the placement of the central unit 10, and similarly, of the sensor unit 11, as well as of the electrodes 23, 24 placed in the chest strap 40. The wiring 41 comprises a single wire or multiple insulated wires arranged in a meandering pattern and adhered to a strip of elastic fabric, which, by its design, can follow every stretch of the attached, equally elastic material without subjecting the conductor to any tensile stress. Such conductive tapes are commercially available, and their electrical resistance is typically less than 0.4 ohms / m.

[0037] The "heart" of the device according to the invention is the design of the chest strap 40, because the most critical and delicate aspect is precisely the placement of the electrodes on the body in such a way that they continuously transmit the detected signals and conditions to the central unit 10, independent of the wearer's movements and without interruptions, noise, or interference, or shifts. In Figures 5b-5e, the individual layers of the chest strap 40 have been shown in the order from the body outward; thus, the rear surface of the inner layer 42 shown in Figure 5b contacts the lower part of the chest, the connecting layer 43, which has a polyurethane coating on both sides serving as an adhesive, is shown in Figure 5c, and behind it is the base fabric 44 shown in Figure 5d, the material of which is identical to that of the smart compression shirt 30 described above.

[0038] The inner layer 42 is a band made of polyamide-elastane fibers, preferably 50 mm wide, in which, perpendicular to the horizontal fibers, on the side facing the body vertical spaces stripes are arranged and these stripes are made by fibers (preferably silicone) that adhere to the body. The inner layer 42 is stretchable by at least 30%, and these stripes facilitate the adherence of the chest strap 40 to the body. The bonding layer 43 has a mesh structure and consists of an adhesive layer coated with polyurethane on both sides, with a thin protective film on one side to allow for two-sided bonding to be performed in different stages. A preferred embodiment is the Bemis™ BFF6430 product, where themesh structure has a hole size between 1 and 1.5 mm, allowing the material to be stretched together with the materials laminated to it.

[0039] Finally, the outer layer 45 is a fully polyester mesh, flexible material, as illustrated by the hatching in Figure 5e; its function is to reinforce and protect the base fabric 44 beneath it. If required, a thin fabric containing the decoration 38 shown in Figure 2 can also be applied to the middle section via lamination. Figures 5f and 6 illustrate the placement of the sensor unit 11 and the electrodes 23, 24 on the inner side of the base fabric 44, i.e., the side facing the body.

[0040] Both the sensor unit 11 and the central unit 10 are formed on a flexible printed circuit board, which is commercially available as an FPCB. Its design and properties are ideal for the application according to the invention. The FPCB is a flexible printed circuit board made of special materials that provide flexibility and allow bending or folding without compromising the overall integrity of the circuit in any way. Its properties:

[0041] Made of flexible polyamide material, as it is lightweight, thin, and resistant to heat and moisture.

[0042] Conductive layer: copper-based, forming thin copper laminate on the surface of the base material

[0043] Insulating layer that protects the tracks from damage and oxidation.

[0044] Adhesive that enhances flexibility.

[0045] Regarding the fabrication of sensor unit 11 on the FPCB substrate, it is noted that its shape may be arbitrary, though a circular or square design is preferred. For temporarily securing the sensor unit 11 several small-diameter holes 48 are provided in the peripheral region where there are no circuits or wires; of which only a few of them are shown in Figure 5f.

[0046] The sensor unit 11 and the central unit 10 are made hermetically water- and moisture-resistant by coating all their exposed surfaces with a thin, waterproof silicone coating, with the exception of the surface of the optical sensor or sensors located behind window 25 the surface of which is covered with a mask prior to the application of the silicone coating. The mask is removed after the coating is applied leaving the window 25 open. Care must be taken to ensure that water resistance is maintained at the edges of the optical sensor surface.

[0047] Prior to the silicone coating, the ends of the prepared wires to be connected to the appropriate connection points are soldered or connected by other known methods. It should be noted that the central unit 10 is prepared in the same way, and before coating it with silicone, the ends of the wires 41 shown in Figures 3 and 4 are also connected. Similarly, the end portions of the individual wires 46, 47are connected to the sensor unit 11 which lead from here to the electrodes 23, 24, and after the connection has been made the sensor unit 11 is provided with the silicone protective coating (and the central unit 10 is coated in the same way after the required connections have been provided). The length of the wires is selected according to the associated distances. The wires 46 and 47 have an elastically stretchable design like that of the wire 41, but in this example, it is sufficient to use singlecore wires.

[0048] After the connection of the ends of wires 41, 46, and 47 to the sensor unit 11 and following the silicone coating, the position of the sensor unit 11 is temporarily coupled to the body-facing side of the cut-to-size and prepared base fabric 44 through holes 48 by sewing or stapling. The term "preparation" means that the exact position of the electrodes 23, 24 to be installed, such as ECG electrodes are known in advance but can be different for users with differing size. This position may vary depending on the size of the chest strap 40, and it is determined in advance using a table based on the size of the smart compression vest 30, and then it is marked on the spread-out base fabric 44 thereof.

[0049] The wires 41, 46, and 47 are led along their desired path, and for their temporary fixation, it is advisable to use short strips 49 cut from an elastic tape of 16 mm wide, coated on one side with thermoplastic polyurethane, some of which are shown in Figure 5f. Suitable for this purpose is, for example, the adhesive tape called Portofino, manufactured by Framis and available commercially, which is sold in rolls. The bonding is performed using a suitable tool, with hot air blown onto the tape and pressure applied between rollers.

[0050] The next step is to affix the base that holds the two electrodes 23 and 24 to the base fabric 44. This base is a disc-shaped spacer 50, which is made of a neoprene-like, approximately 5 mm thick sponge material; and a thermoplastic adhesive film of the same shape and size is placed under it, the film is coated on both sides with polyurethane to provide the required adhesion, and this arrangement is placed over the base fabric 44 (not shown in the drawing). Then, using heat and pressure, the spacer 50 is fixed to the inner side of the base fabric 44. This double-sided adhesive film can be made, for example, by the Framis company's 8220 V100 product.

[0051] In the next step, illustrated in Figure 5f, a sufficiently long section of the insulating layer is removed from the ends of the wires 46, 47, and these ends 51 are bent and placed onto the free upper surface of the spacer 50 adhered preciously to the base fabric 44. The bending is required to increase thereby the contact surface area with the free wire ends.

[0052] The electrodes 23, 24 are made of a fabric woven from electrically conductive yarn, such as aluminum-coated silk thread, also known as "conductive silk," which is skin-friendly and has an electricalresistance of less than 10 Ohms / m. From this material, pieces are cut with the appropriate shape and size for the planned electrodes 23, 24, then position them onto the free upper surface of the spacer 50 using a special disc 52 of the same size made of a mesh-structured fabric coated on both sides with polyurethane adhesive (Figure 6b). An example of the "mesh" structure material of the discs 52 is the product from Bemis having the type: Art.3912 Net col. clear. Prior to bonding, the ends of the wires— cleaned of insulation and lengthened by bending— are placed on the upper free surface of the sponge spacer 50. The mesh structure with gaps between the fibers is required because an adhesive covering the entire surface would act as insulation between the end of the signal-carrying wire 51 and the associated electrode 23 or 24. Electrical conductivity is achieved through the gaps in the mesh. It is noted that appropriate cutouts and windows must be made for the electrodes 23, 24, in the additional layers facing the body under the base fabric 44, as well as for the optical sensor(s), indicated by window 25. The electrodes 23, 24 prepared in this manner are fixed by hot lamination.

[0053] To enhance the safety of the non-slip connection between the chest strap 40 and the body, in addition to the special, friction-enhancing design of the inner layer 42, it is advantageous to laminate a friction-enhancing strip 53 approximately 10 mm wide onto at least one edge of each of the two inner sides of the approximately 50 mm wide chest strap 40 which has a silicone or silicone-coated inner surface. The strip 53 may be made, for example, from the product marketed by Framis under the trade name "Eco Stretch Gripper," one side of which is silicone and the other contains a thin polyurethane material that allows for lamination. The strip 53 is shown in Figure 5a.

[0054] The layers of the chest strap 40 prepared in this way are joined by lamination. Before lamination, the non-adhesive film must be peeled off from the inner side of the connecting layer 43.

[0055] Although not mentioned previously, the necessary sewing steps (pinning, sewing, positioning) must be performed in the known manner during the manufacture of the chest strap 40, its attachment to the smart compression vest 30, and the manufacture of the chest strap 40 itself. In this work the wires 41 are led along the edges 37, and first they are temporarily secured by stitching or with a single-sided tape, and then the final positioning is achieved so that respective U-shaped tapes 54 are placed around the two sides of the edges 37 and the structure is fixed by lamination. This is illustrated in Figure 6c. The tape 54 is a single-sided, thermoplastic polyurethane-coated textile adhesive tape, preferably 16 mm wide and without an adhesive coating in the center. A suitable example is the adhesive tape marketed by Bemis under the trade name SFE 100. The tools required for U-shaped bending and the subsequent lamination are commercially available.Reference is made now to Figure 7, then again to Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 7, the units to be built into the smart compression vest 30 of the arrangement according to the invention are shown separately in their pre-installation state. The central unit 10 is constructed on the same flexible printed circuit board as described in the description of the sensor unit 11; the only difference is that there is no optical sensor left exposed, so the silicone coating can be applied immediately after connecting the wires 41. In the drawing, two smaller antennas 16a, 16b are shown instead of the single antenna 16 in Figure 1. The connection of multiple antennas to a given unit is always determined by local conditions, primarily the distance of the remote processing unit 12 from the location of the sport or training activity.

[0056] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the central unit 10 mounted on the rear section 36 and also illustrates the layers of the chest strap 40. The central unit 10 is located at position 55 in the upper central part of the rear section 36, and in the exploded view, the central unit 10— which was still separate at that point— is visible above position 55, and above it is the receiver coil 21 laminated into the cover fabric, and this fabric section covers the central unit 10, while also forming the lower part of the pocket 58 designed for the battery 22. The pocket 58 is closed at the top by a cover 59 made of the base fabric material. The three antennas 14, 16a, 16b are each a conductive surface, which may also be made of the material used for the electrodes 23, 24, and are attached to appropriate locations on the rear section 36 away from the central unit 10. Regarding the attachment of the central unit 10 to the rear section 36, it should also be noted that only the necessary steps for placement were described; in addition, any other garment-making solutions known and commonly used in the industry may also be employed for positioning the individual components and securing them to one another.

[0057] The smart compression vest 30, with the chest strap 40 attached to it and the electronic units, electrodes, and sensors secured therein, provide highly comprehensive information on the condition of the athlete wearing it, covering virtually all physical and physiological parameters; this information has an interference-free, stable source, guaranteed by the stable positioning of the smart compression vest and the chest strap attached thereto and forming its lower part. At the same time, the smart compression vest 30 is comfortable to wear, hygienic, washable, and can be put on and taken off multiple times.

[0058] Based on the above, the arrangement according to the invention has solved the objectives set.

Claims

Claims:

1. A physiological condition sensing and monitoring arrangement built into a smart compression vest (30), comprising a GPS unit (13), an UWB unit (15) for indoor positioning, an optical sensor, and an electronic central unit (10) comprising a wireless communication link for connection to a remote processing unit (12), a power supply provided by a battery (22) supplying power to the electronic central unit (10), a chest strap (40) attached to the bottom of the smart compression vest (30) and comprising sensor electrodes (23, 24) spaced apart from each other and secured thereto, said optical sensor and a window open towards the body in front of the optical sensor, characterized in that the central unit (10) is arranged in the rear portion (36) of the smart compression vest (30), and said arrangement comprising a sensor unit (11) arranged in the chest strap (40) connected to the central unit (10) through wires (41, 41'), the chest strap (40) comprises a multi-layered, elastic structure with a base fabric (44), wherein the layers are bonded to one another by lamination, and the sensor unit (11) is attached to the elastic base fabric (44) of the chest strap (40), and the chest strap (40) further comprises an inner layer (42) attached to the base fabric (44) and having spaced fibers at the side facing the body of a wearer made of an elastic material with good adherence to the body to prevent displacement of the chest strap (40) when the wearer moves, wherein said sensor electrodes (23, 24) being made as separate pieces woven from spaced conductive fibers with an electrical resistance less than 10 Ohm / m, and comprising respective flexible spacers (50) between each electrodes (23, 24) and the associated base fabric (44), the shapes of the spacers (50) matching that of the associated electrodes (23, 24), and said laminated structure comprises respective openings in front of said electrodes (23, 24) towards the body to allow direct contact between the electrodes (23, 24) and the body, and the sensor unit (11) is connected to the electrodes (23, 24) via respective wires (46, 47) arranged and led in the chest strap (40).

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the central unit (10) and the sensor unit (11) are formed on respective flexible printed circuit boards, and after the wires (41, 41', 46, 47) have been connected to the associated flexible printed circuit board they are coated with silicone to ensure water resistance.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein opposite the battery (22) and behind the pocket (58), a receiver (21) is provided in wireless electromagnetic communication with the battery (22) and connected to the central unit (10) to ensure power supply.

4. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein before lamination beneath the electrodes (23, 24) in a direction away from the body, a mesh-like fabric (52) coated on both sides with a thermoplastic adhesive is arranged and between the spacer (50) attached to the base fabric (44) and the mesh-like fabric (52) the end (51) of the wire (46 or 47) associated with the respective electrode (23, 24) is arranged, wherein said end (51) is stripped of its insulating coating, whereby following lamination a stable electrical connection is provided between the wires (46, 47) and the associated electrode (23, 24).

5. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the wires (41, 41', 46, 47) have a stretchable structure arranged in a meandering pattern and secured to a flexible tape and are led and fixed along the edges (37) of the smart compression vest (30).

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wires (41, 46, 47) are at least partially covered by a strip (54) that is bent into a U-shape along the edges (37), provided with a thermoplastic adhesive on its inner side, and laminated using heat and pressure.

7. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein a strip (53) having an outer surface adhering to the body is laminated to at least one edge of the surface of the chest strap (40) facing the body to increased adherence of the chest strap (40).

8. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 2-7, wherein the edges of the flexible printed circuit boards comprise holes (48) for being connected to the base fabric (44).

9. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-8, wherein for reinforcing and protecting the base fabric (44) the chest strap (40) comprises a flexible outer layer (45) made of polyester material with a mesh structure.

10. The arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-9, wherein the rear portion of the smart compression vest (30) comprises antennas (14, 16) connected to the GPS and UWB units (13, 15) and positioned away from the central unit (10).

Images