Wearable Physiological Sensor Garment with Detachable Electronics Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable physiological monitoring garments are hindered by the need for large electronics and battery boxes that are intrusive, motion-inhibiting, and difficult to launder, with sensors often attached using adhesives or gels.
Innovation Solution
A form-fitting garment with embedded sensors connected via woven wires to a small, credit card-sized electronics module and rechargeable lithium polymer battery, allowing for non-intrusive monitoring and easy removal for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large electronics and battery boxes are attached to the garment, then reliable physiological monitoring is achieved, but the garment becomes intrusive and motion-inhibiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into separate modular components: sensors embedded in the garment, a detachable wireless transmitter unit, and a separate power source. This segmentation allows the electronics to be miniaturized and distributed, eliminating the need for large bulky boxes while maintaining monitoring reliability through coordinated operation of the modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power source and main electronics from the garment fabric itself, placing them in a separate detachable wireless transmitter unit that can be worn on the body or removed. This extraction eliminates the intrusion of large electronics within the garment while preserving all monitoring functions through wireless data transmission.
2Device complexity
If electronics and battery are embedded into the garment, then monitoring functionality is integrated, but laundering becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electronic components into a detachable module that can be separated from the washable garment portion. The sensors remain embedded in the garment fabric for integrated monitoring, while the electronics and battery are housed in a removable unit that can be detached before laundering, thus maintaining both integration and washability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electronics and battery from the garment fabric, placing them in a separate detachable wireless transmitter unit. This allows the garment to be laundered without the electronics, while the extracted electronic module can be separately maintained or replaced, resolving the conflict between integration and laundering ease.
3Reliability
If sensors are attached directly to the body using adhesives or gels, then reliable sensing is achieved, but the garment cannot be easily cleaned and may cause skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensors from direct body contact by embedding them in the garment fabric and using the garment itself as the interface. This eliminates the need for adhesives or gels that cause skin irritation, while the form-fitting garment ensures reliable sensor contact through mechanical pressure alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the garment fabric as an intermediary between the sensors and the body. The sensors are embedded in the garment rather than contacting skin directly, with the fabric serving as a comfortable, removable mediator that maintains sensing reliability while eliminating skin irritation and simplifying cleaning.
4Loss of information
If wires run from the garment to external boxes, then sensor data can be transmitted, but the system becomes cumbersome and motion-inhibiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire connection system with a wireless transmission system. The sensors in the garment communicate with the detachable transmitter unit wirelessly, eliminating physical wires that restrict movement while maintaining complete data transmission capability for physiological monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of sensors are embedded in a form fitting garment similar to exercise togs such that the sensors are held in contact with or close proximity to the body. The sensors are connected via a plurality wires to an electronics module which is unintrusive being literally in its ultimate configuration the size of a credit card. A range of thickness, from 6 mm (6 credit cards) down to 1 mm or less, is possible for the module inclusive of a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The electronics module can be easily removed for garment maintenance (laundering).