Health-monitor patch
View Patent ↗A health-monitor patch comprising at least one physiological sensor and digital processor is configured to be adhered to the skin of a subject. A health-monitor patch may further include an accelerometer and may detect cardiac waveforms, activity performed by the subject, and a body orientation of the subject. A health-monitor patch may be disposable, in some embodiments, and used fox outpatient monitoring. Aspects of noise cancellation and reel-to-reel manufacturing are also described.
1. A method for detecting a cardiac waveform with a wearable health-monitor patch, the method comprising:
receiving two electrical signals at two respective monitor electrodes of the health-monitor patch, wherein the two monitor electrodes contact the skin of a subject and are separated by a distance;
conducting the two electrical signals from the two monitor electrodes over two respective conductive paths to two respective signal inputs of electronic circuitry mounted within the health-monitor patch;
receiving an electrical signal from a noise electrode that contacts the skin of the subject at a location separate from the two monitor electrodes;
conducting the electrical signal from the noise electrode to a conductive shield that extends over at least portions of the two conductive paths; and
powering the electronic circuitry with a battery having a terminal to which the conductive shield and the noise electrode are connected.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the noise electrode contacts the skin of the subject at a location between the two monitor electrodes.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two conductive paths are formed, at least in part, from conductive adhesive tape.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the health-monitor patch comprises a plurality of flexible and flexible adhesive levels that are adhered together, and wherein the two monitor electrodes and the noise electrode comprise hydrogel electrodes.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein conducting the two electrical signals from the two monitor electrodes comprises conducting the electrical signals in part through conductive infused silicone.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling a signal from the conductive shield to each of the two conductive paths.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising receiving the two electrical signals from the two monitor electrodes at respective inputs of a differential amplifier included in the electronic circuitry.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising processing a signal from an output of the differential amplifier by a processor included in the electronic circuitry to determine heart rate variability.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising processing a signal from an output of the differential amplifier by a processor included in the electronic circuitry to determine respiratory rate.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising processing, by a processor included in the electronic circuitry, at least one signal received from an accelerometer mounted within the health-monitor patch to determine a body orientation of the subject.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising processing, by a processor included in the electronic circuitry, at least one signal received from an accelerometer mounted within the health-monitor patch to determine a type of activity being performed by the subject.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a processor disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and the conductive shield comprises an electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield that extends over the PCB assembly.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the health-monitor patch is formed as a flexible strip and the ESD shield comprises a conductive polymer film.
14. The health-monitor patch of claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield extends over the terminal of the battery and the noise electrode.
15. The health-monitor patch of claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield extends over all conductors that connect the conductive shield to the terminal of the battery and the noise electrode.
16. The health-monitor patch of claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield is less than about two millimeters from the portions of the two conductive paths.