Elastic fabric with sinusoidally disposed wires

A method of forming a length of multi-ply elastic fabric for use in a sensing system comprising:

• causing a plurality of elastic warp yarns to be elongated along first and second vertically spaced planes in a plurality of laterally spaced positions and weaving selected picks of a plurality of picks with said selected warp yarns forming upper and lower surfaces for a plurality of cells;
• causing a plurality of conductive yarns to extend along said cells between said upper and lower surfaces;
• weaving selected other picks of said plurality of picks with said conductive warp yarns shaping said conductive warp yarns into controlled sinusoidal configurations within said cells;
• and
• causing said elongated elastic warp yarns to contract reducing said fabric length, causing said sinusoidal configurations of said conductive warp yarns to assume enlarged controlled sinusoidal shapes between said upper and lower surfaces;
• wherein
• said upper and lower surfaces formed of said elastic warp yarns maintain said controlled sinusoidal shapes of said conductive warp yarns within said cells while said fabric is positioned in numerous extended and retracted positions.

A multi-ply carrier fabric for use in a physiological sensing system comprising:

• first, second and third elastic warp yarn groups each interwoven with selected ones of a plurality of picks of weft yarn through a weave pattern forming said fabric with a plurality of longitudinally extending individual cells;
• said first warp yarn group weaving with first ones of said picks forming an upper layer of said cells;
• said second warp yarn group, having less warp yarns than said first warp yarn group, weaving with second ones of said picks forming a lower layer of said cells;
• said third warp yarn group being arranged between said first and second warp yarn groups and weaving with each said pick of said plurality of picks binding said upper and lower layers together forming said cells;
• and,
• an inelastic conductive yarn extending within each said cell along a sinusoidal path;
• wherein
• said fabric, when moved between a retracted and various extended positions, allows said conductive yarns to move between varying sinusoidal shapes while being retained within said cells.

A system for monitoring prescribed body functions comprising:

• a carrier worn over a portion of a torso, said carrier comprising a composite elastic fabric stretchable in its longitudinal direction so as to expand and contract in response to body movement and size;
• said carrier including at least one conductive and inelastic yarn located between upper and lower surfaces and positioned in sinusoidal configurations longitudinally of said fabric;
• a breakout of said conductive yarn through one of said upper and lower surfaces forming opposed exposed ends of said conductive yarns above said one surface;
• a monitoring unit, including a connector and a sensor secured with said one surface at said breakout, said connector being united said exposed ends of said conductive yarn at said breakout;
• whereby,
• said fabric maintains said monitoring unit in a desired stationary position about said portion of said torso to sense signals emitted from said torso and to transmit said sensed signals.