FLAT TEXTILE MATERIAL FOR PLACING ON A HUMAN OR ANIMAL BODY

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat textile material (2) for placing on a human or animal body in order to capture and/or transmit electrical signals, comprising: a longitudinal direction (4); a traverse direction (6) running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (4); an extension plane (8); a thickness direction (10) orthogonal to the extension plane (8); a first layer (34) facing the body; a second layer (36) facing away from the body; and at least one electrode (20), arranged on or in the first layer (34), for placing on the body, wherein: the electrode (20) comprises electrically conductive threads (50, 52); the second layer (36) comprises electrically non-conductive threads (56, 58) having a first water absorbency; threads (64) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and having a second water absorbency are provided either in the first layer (34) or in the thickness direction (10) between the electrode (20) and the second layer (36); and the second water absorbency of these threads (64) is greater than the first water absorbency of the electrically non-conductive threads (56, 58) of the second layer (36).

Claims

1. A flat textile material (2) for placing on a human or animal body to capture and/or transmit electrical signals, comprising: a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (6) running transverse to the longitudinal direction (4), an extension plane (8), a thickness direction (10) orthogonal to the extension plane (8), a first layer (34) facing the body, a second layer (36) facing away from the body, and at least one electrode (20) arranged on or in the first layer (34) for placing on the body, wherein the electrode (20) comprises electrically conductive threads (50, 52), the second layer (36) comprises electrically non-conductive threads (56, 58) having a first water absorbency, there are provided either in the first layer (34) or in the thickness direction (10) between the electrode (20) and the second layer (36) threads (64) having a second water absorbency extending in the longitudinal direction (4), and the second water absorbency of these threads (64) is greater than the first water absorbency of the electrically non-conductive threads (56, 58) of the second layer (36).

2. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second water absorbency is at least 1.10 times, in particular at least 2.0 times, further in particular at least 5.0 times, even further in particular at least 10 times, and most particular at least 20 times, the first water absorbency.

3. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first water absorbency is not more than 1.0 wt. %, in particular not more than 0.1 wt. %, and most particular not more than 0.01 wt. %.

4. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second water absorbency is at least 2.0 wt. %, in particular at least 5.0 wt. %, and most particular at least 20 wt. %.

5. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive threads (50, 52) of the electrode (20) comprise electrically conductive threads (50) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and electrically conductive threads (52) extending in the transverse direction (6).

6. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically non-conductive threads (56, 58) of the second layer (36) comprise electrically non-conductive threads (56) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and electrically non-conductive threads (58) extending in the transverse direction (6), which threads in each case have the first water absorbency.

7. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is at least one side region (26) adjoining the electrode (20) in the transverse direction (6), in particular a first side region (26) adjoining the electrode (20) in the transverse direction (6) and a second side region (28) adjoining the electrode (20) in the transverse direction (6) opposite the first side region (26).

8. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode (20) or the electrode (20) and the side region(s) (26, 28) form an electrode portion (30) of the flat material (2), and the electrode portion (30) is adjoined in the longitudinal direction (4) by an intermediate portion (32) of the flat material (2).

9. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrode portion (30) is adjoined in the longitudinal direction (4) by a further intermediate portion (32) opposite the intermediate portion (32).

10. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intermediate portion (32) is adjoined in the longitudinal direction (4) by a further electrode portion (30), and the intermediate portion (3) is then arranged in the longitudinal direction between the electrode portions (30).

11. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, configured to be substantially endless in the longitudinal direction (4), wherein an electrode portion (30) and an intermediate portion (32) alternate.

12. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer (34) comprises in the side region(s) (26, 28) of the electrode portion (30), electrically non-conductive threads (54) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and electrically conductive threads (52) extending in the transverse direction (6).

13. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threads (64) having the second water absorbency extending in the longitudinal direction (4) are arranged in the transverse direction (6) between the first side region (26) and the second side region (28).

14. The flat material as claimed in claim 13, wherein the threads (64) having the second absorbency are provided in a floating manner between the electrode (20) and the second layer (36).

15. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer (34) and the second layer (36) lie loosely against or on one another at least in the electrode portion (30).

16. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first layer (34) and the second layer (36) are joined together in the intermediate portion (32).

17. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first layer (34) and the second layer (36) are brought together in the intermediate portion (32) to form a combined textile carrier layer (42).

18. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threads (64) having the second water absorbency in the intermediate portion (32) are configured and arranged to be placed on the body.

19. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive threads (50, 52) of the electrode (20) arranged in the longitudinal direction (4) pass through the second layer (36) and/or the carrier layer (42) in the thickness direction (10), and are arranged in the intermediate portion (32) in a floating manner on the side of the second layer (36) or carrier layer (42) facing away from the body.

20. The flat material as claimed in claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive threads (50) arranged in a floating manner on the side of the second layer (36) or carrier layer (42) facing away from the body, are cut and in particular combined to form at least one bundle (70).

21. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intermediate portion (32) comprises a middle region (44), the middle region (44) has a transverse extent in the transverse direction (6) that corresponds substantially to the electrode (20), there are provided in the middle region (44) threads (64) having the second water absorbency which extend in the longitudinal direction (4) and are arranged side by side substantially in parallel, and electrically non-conductive threads (56) having the first water absorbency which extend in the longitudinal direction and are arranged side by side substantially in parallel.

22. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the transverse direction (6) outside a middle region (44), the intermediate portion (32) is formed by electrically non-conductive threads (56) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and electrically conductive and/or electrically non-conductive threads (58) extending in the transverse direction (6).

23. The flat material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first layer (34) and the second layer (36) are arranged and joined together such that there is formed in the electrode portion (30), a tunnel (38) which extends in the transverse direction (6) and is delimited by the first and second layers (34, 36).

24. The flat material as claimed in claim 23, wherein a pressure element (40) can be inserted into the tunnel (38), which pressure element urges the first layer (34) and the electrode, and optionally the threads (64) having the second water absorbency which are guided transversely through the tunnel in a floating manner, toward the body.

25. The flat material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrode (20) is configured to be raised relative to the body compared to the side regions (26, 28), and/or the intermediate portion (32), and/or the carrier layer (42).

26. The flat material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second layer (34, 36) is formed by a woven fabric, a warp direction of the woven fabric runs in the longitudinal direction (4), and a weft direction of the woven fabric runs in the transverse direction (6).

27. A wound dressing (72) for assisting and monitoring wound treatment, wherein the wound dressing comprises a flat material (2) as claimed in claim 1.

Description

[0064] In the drawing:

[0065] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a side of a flat textile material according to the invention facing the skin;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a side of the flat material according to FIG. 1 facing away from the skin;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a portion of a textile flat material according to the invention looking from above at a side facing the body;

[0068] FIG. 4a is a further representation corresponding to FIG. 3; and

[0069] FIG. 4b is a schematic side view of the portion according to FIG. 3;

[0070] FIG. 5 is a further schematic representation of the portion according to FIG. 3, looking from beneath at a side facing away from the body;

[0071] FIG. 6 is a further schematic representation corresponding to FIG. 5 with cut and bundled electrically conductive threads;

[0072] FIG. 7 is a representation of a body part with two portions of a flat textile material according to the invention placed on the body part, in an operating situation; and

[0073] FIG. 8 is a further representation of a body part with an annular closed band of a flat textile material according to the invention having a plurality of electrode portions and intermediate portions.

[0074] The figures show a flat textile material 2 according to the invention and illustrate, in some cases highly schematically, the structure thereof. The flat material 2 is intended to be placed on a human or animal body and to capture electrical signals and/or transmit them to the body. The flat textile material 2 extends in a longitudinal direction 4 and in a transverse direction 6 and in an extension plane 8 which coincides with the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1. A thickness direction 10 running orthogonal to the extension plane 8 is further inserted, and this is visible in FIG. 3.

[0075] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a side 12, facing the body, of a portion 16 of the flat textile material 2 indicated by a rectangular frame 14. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a side 18 of the portion 16 facing away from the body. In the highly schematic perspective representation of the flat material portion 16 according to FIG. 3, the side 12 facing the body is at the top facing the viewing direction and the side 18 facing away from the body is at the bottom facing away from the viewing direction.

[0076] In the case shown here, the portion 16 of the flat textile material 2 comprises by way of example two electrodes 20 for capturing or transmitting electrical signals, which electrodes are by way of example rectangular and are indicated in FIG. 1 by a frame 21. They extend over an electrode length 22 in the longitudinal direction 4 and over an electrode width 24 in the transverse direction 6. In the transverse direction 6, outside each electrode 20, there follows a first and a second side region 26, 28 of the portion 16. Each side region 26, 28 is also extended over the electrode length 22 and in the transverse direction 6 in each case as far as the edge of the flat textile material 2. The region of each electrode 20, together with the first and the second side regions 26, 28, forms in each case an electrode portion 30 of the flat textile material 2, or of the portion 16. In the longitudinal direction 4 between the electrode portions 30, an intermediate portion 32 of the flat textile material 2 is provided or arranged. In this intermediate portion 32, the two electrodes 20 are in most applications to be largely electrically separated in the longitudinal direction 4.

[0077] As will be explained in detail, the flat textile material 2 according to the invention can be produced endlessly in the longitudinal direction 4, so that the flat material portions 16 indicated in the figures can be obtained from an endlessly produced strip or band of the flat material according to the invention in the form of longitudinal portions of that endless flat material 2. It is thus conceivable in particular that a portion 16 of the flat material 2 in question can also have a plurality of electrodes 20, between which there are arranged in the longitudinal direction 4, as shown, intermediate portions 32 which electrically separate the electrodes 20 from one another as far as possible or, for certain applications, leave them electrically connected to one another.

[0078] As can be seen from the highly schematic representation of the portion 16 of the flat textile material 2 in FIG. 3, the flat textile material 2 comprises in each electrode portion 30 a first layer 34 facing the body and a second layer 36 facing away from the body, which layers in each electrode portion 30 can in particular, in the preferred case shown, be loosely placed against one another and/or, as shown in an exaggerated manner in FIG. 3, can be opened up and then delimit a tunnel 38 extended in the transverse direction 6. The tunnel 38 can preferably extend over the entire transverse extent of the flat material portion 16, that is to say delimit a continuous clear cross-sectional area into which, for example, a pressure element indicated on the right in FIG. 3 can be inserted in order to urge or press the electrode 20 of the flat material 2 in the direction toward the body, in order to assist with achieving good electrical contacting of the electrode 20 with the surface of the body. This is optional, however, and the tunnel 38 can also remain unfilled during use and the layers 34, 36 can to a certain extent lie loosely against one another. If desired, they could also be joined together in any desired manner, for example by means of stitching.

[0079] As is likewise best apparent from FIG. 3, the first layer 34 facing the body and the second layer 36 facing away from the body are brought together in the intermediate portion 32 to form a combined textile carrier layer 42, which will be explained in greater detail below. At the transition from the intermediate portion 32 into the adjoining further electrode portion 30, the threads of the textile carrier layer 42 are then separated again in the thickness direction 10 in order to form there the first layer 34 facing the body and the second layer 36 facing away from the body.

[0080] Finally, a middle region 44 is also defined in the intermediate portion 32, which middle region is situated in the transverse direction 6 between two broken lines 46 and the transverse extent of which corresponds approximately to the electrode width 24.

[0081] The formation of the layers, of the electrode, of the regions and portions of the flat textile material 2 according to the invention will now be explained.

[0082] Each electrode 20 comprises electrically conductive threads 50 extended in the longitudinal direction 4 and electrically conductive threads 52 extended in the transverse direction 6. In the case shown by way of example, these electrically conductive threads 50, 52 form both the electrode 50 and the first layer 34 facing the body in the region of the electrode.

[0083] The course of a single electrically conductive thread 50 in the form of a warp thread and 52 in the form of a weft thread is shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows the flat material portion 16 in perspective and in the viewing direction of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows the flat material portion 16 from beneath, looking at the side 18 of the portion 16 facing away from the body. In FIG. 5, looking at the side 18 facing away from the body, a plurality of electrically conductive threads 50 running in a wavy line in the longitudinal direction 4 are therefore shown, in order to illustrate a floating, that is to say unwoven, course of these threads in the intermediate portion 32. At the transition from the electrode portion 30 into the intermediate portion 32, each thread 50 thus passes in the thickness direction 10 through the second layer 36 facing away from the body or through the carrier layer 42 in the intermediate portion 32 and, as indicated in FIG. 5, continues to run in the longitudinal direction 4 in a floating manner and to a certain extent parallel to the carrier layer 42, which is yet to be explained.

[0084] In the transverse direction 6 outside the electrode 20, that is to say in side regions 26, 28 of the flat material 2, the first layer 34 facing the body is formed by electrically non-conductive threads 54 running in the longitudinal direction 4 and by the electrically conductive threads 52 running in the transverse direction 6, which also form the electrode 20. Further threads could be present, in particular in the longitudinal direction 6, but this is not the case in the example.

[0085] In the case shown by way of example, the second layer 36 facing away from the body is formed in the region of the electrode portion 30 of the flat textile material 2 by electrically non-conductive threads 56 extending in the longitudinal direction 4 and by electrically non-conductive threads 58 extending in the transverse direction 6. The threads 56 extended in the longitudinal direction, as warp threads, form a woven fabric with the threads 58 extended in the transverse direction 6, as weft threads. Here too, a single thread 56 and 58 is indicated in FIG. 5 for the purpose of illustration.

[0086] The threads 56, 58 have a first water absorbency, as explained at the beginning. The second layer 36 can therefore be described as more rather hydrophobic, so that it prevents or stops the ingress of liquid or excessive moisture from outside through the second layer 36 in the direction toward the electrode 20.

[0087] In the case shown by way of example, the first layer 34 facing the body and the second layer 36 facing away from the body merge into each other in the intermediate portion 32 to form the combined textile carrier layer 42. This carrier layer 42 accordingly comprises in the intermediate portion 32 the electrically conductive threads 52 extended in the longitudinal direction and the electrically non-conductive threads 54 extended in the longitudinal direction and the non-conductive threads 58 extended in the transverse direction, which are present not only in the electrode portion 30 but also in the intermediate portion 32. As is indicated in FIG. 1 at the transition of the electrode portion 30 into the intermediate portion 32, some adjacent electrically conductive threads 52 running in the transverse direction have been cut on both sides (see reference numeral 60), in order to achieve electrical insulation of the electrode 30 from the textile carrier layer 42 in the intermediate portion 32.

[0088] The flat textile material 2 comprises further threads 64 extended in the longitudinal direction 4, but these run in the longitudinal direction 4 along the entire flat textile material only in a middle region, which corresponds approximately to the electrode width 24. These threads 64 run in the electrode portion 30, by way of example and preferably, in a floating manner, that is to say they run in the longitudinal direction 4 between the first layer 34 facing the body and the second layer 36 facing away from the body and to a certain extent pass through the tunnel 38 formed by those layers. They are then woven in in the intermediate portion 32, that is to say in the textile carrier layer 42, as further warp threads. For further illustration, a single one of these threads 64 is shown in FIG. 4a in the right-hand half and a plurality of these threads 64 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a dot-and-dash line. FIG. 4b illustrates, in a schematic side view, the floating course of these threads 64 through the tunnel 38.

[0089] These further threads 64 running in the longitudinal direction are substantially electrically non-conducting, and they have a second water absorbency, which is higher than the first water absorbency of the threads 56, 58 of the second layer 36. The second water absorbency is preferably significantly higher than the first water absorbency of the non-conductive threads 56, 58 of the second layer 36. In particular, it is found to be advantageous if the second water absorbency of the threads 64 makes these threads appear hydrophilic and if the first water absorbency of the threads 56, 58 of the second layer 36 makes this layer appear hydrophobic. The water absorbency of threads can be determined in the manner already indicated at the beginning.

[0090] The hydrophilic threads 64 having a relatively higher second water absorbency and extended in the longitudinal direction through the entire flat textile material 2 are so provided and guided in the intermediate portion 32 in the case of the textile carrier layer 42 in the middle region 44 mentioned at the beginning that they, for example as warp threads of the textile carrier layer 42, repeatedly come into direct contact with the surface of the body. In this manner, the water- and moisture-absorbing threads 64 can keep a region of the surface of the body between the electrodes drier, which assists with the electrical insulation of the electrodes from one another. However, because the water- or moisture-absorbing threads 64 run spaced apart from the surface of the body in the electrode portion 30, that is to say in a floating manner in the region of the tunnel 38, that is to say on the side of the electrode 20 facing away from the body, they do not lead to drying out of the surface of the body in the region of direct contact with the electrodes 20. On the other hand, it is assumed that the water- or moisture-absorbing threads 64 can nevertheless carry out a certain moisture conditioning in the electrode portion 30, specifically in the region of the electrode 20. They protect the electrode 20 on the one hand from excess wetting and on the other hand from drying out by providing a moisture reservoir in the form of the moisture stored therein. Because, on the other hand, the electrically non-conductive threads 54 and 56 of the second layer 36 facing away from the body have a lower water absorbency than the threads 64 floating in the electrode portion 30 which have just been described, they in turn form protection toward the outside against drying out of the electrode 20 by evaporation and protection against the introduction of excessive water or moisture from outside to the electrode 20. It is thus considered to be particularly advantageous that the second layer 36 facing away from the body forms an outer water-repellent cover of the electrode 20 in the electrode portion 30 of the flat textile material 2. In particular in conjunction with water-attracting threads 64 provided on the side of the electrode 20 facing away from the body, the achievement of good contacting, that is to say of low contact resistance between the electrode 20 and the skin surface can be assisted.

[0091] Finally, the floating course of the electrically conductive threads 50 extended in the longitudinal direction in the intermediate portion 32 of the flat textile material will be discussed further. As already mentioned, these threads 50, together with the electrically conductive threads 52 extended in the transverse direction, form the electrode 20. Because the conductive threads 50 extended in the longitudinal direction, like preferably all the other threads extended in the longitudinal direction, are introduced endlessly in the manufacture of the flat textile material, they also extend between two electrode portions 30, that is to say in the intermediate portion 32, during manufacture. However, they extend there in a floating manner, as is shown schematically in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 2 on the left. This would connect the successive electrodes 20 together in an electrically conducting manner, which for example in some cases may be wholly desirable. If, on the other hand, this is not desirable, then it is possible to cut these floating threads 50, as is indicated in FIG. 2 at reference numeral 66. In this manner, the electrically conductive threads 50 can be cut close to the electrode portion 30 and the length that is produced can be discarded. It is, however, also conceivable and advantageous for the use of the flat textile material 2 or of a flat material portion 16 if the conductive threads 50 extended in the longitudinal direction are cut not close to the electrode but approximately centrally in the longitudinal direction, because the remaining lengths of the threads 50 can then be combined to form a bundle 70 (indicated in FIG. 6), which can be used as a contacting wire of the electrode 20. This bundle 70 can then additionally advantageously be grasped on the side of the flat material 2 facing away from the body and can be connected to line means leading from there to a measuring or treatment apparatus of any kind (which, however, is not shown).

[0092] FIGS. 7 and 8 show purely exemplary applications in the form of arrangements of a portion 16, in particular configured as described above, of a flat textile material 2 according to the invention on the human body. The flat material can be a wound dressing 72, in particular a plaster.

[0093] FIG. 8 shows a flat textile material 2 which is extended continuously in a head circumferential direction and closed on itself, which is thus joined to form a cylindrical portion 16 and comprises a plurality of electrode portions 30 having electrodes 20 and intermediate portions 32 arranged therebetween.