# US 9,872,525 B2 · Apparatus for selectively attaching physiological sensor pod to different types of wearable apparel, and wearable apparel including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,525 B2 - Document ID: US9872525B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/661,831 - Filed: 2015-03-18 - Published: 2016-07-07 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-05 - Assignees: Salutron, Inc. - Applicants: Salutron, Inc. - Inventors: Yong Jin Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872525B2 ## CPC - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A42B 3/0433: {Detecting, signalling or lighting devices} - A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/256: Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands - A61B 5/28: for electrocardiography [ECG] - A61B 5/282: Holders for multiple electrodes (for introduction into the body A61B5/287) - A61B 5/4809: {Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not} - A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06F 3/015: {Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection} - H04B 1/385: {Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets} - A41B 1/00: Shirts - A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability} - A61B 2560/0242: adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution - A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus - H04B 2001/3855: {carried in a belt or harness} - H04B 2001/3861: {carried in a hand or on fingers} - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS ## Abstract An apparatus selectively attaches a physiologic sensor pod to an article of apparel or clothing, wherein the sensor pod includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface, and a groove extending around the peripheral surface. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises an elastic ring having an inner circumference slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove in the outer circumference of the sensor pod. The apparatus can also include a slit extending from an outer circumference of the elastic ring toward, but not all the way to, the inner circumference of ring, wherein a portion of fabric is insertable into the slit, at which point, a peripheral portion of the elastic ring can be sewn or otherwise attached to the fabric. In another embodiment, the adaptor includes a support ring adapted to be sewn to the elastic ring with a portion of fabric therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus adapted to selectively attach a physiologic sensor pod to an article of apparel or clothing, wherein the physiologic sensor pod includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a groove extending around the peripheral surface of the housing, the apparatus comprising: an elastic ring having an inner circumference that is slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove in the outer circumference of the physiologic sensor pod; and a slit that extends from an outer circumference of the elastic ring toward, but not all the way to, the inner circumference of the elastic ring; wherein a portion of fabric of the article of apparel or clothing is insertable into the slit, at which point, a peripheral portion of the elastic ring can be sewn to or attached by an adhesive to the fabric. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic ring is made of at least one of rubber or silicone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic ring has an oval or elliptical shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic ring has circular, rectangular or square shape. ### Claim 5 An apparatus adapted to selectively attach a physiologic sensor pod to an article of apparel or clothing, wherein the physiologic sensor pod includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a groove extending around the peripheral surface of the housing, the apparatus comprising: an elastic ring having an inner circumference that is slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove in the outer circumference of the physiologic sensor pod; and a support ring having an outer circumference that is substantially the same as an outer circumference of the elastic ring and having an inner circumference that is larger than the inner circumference of the elastic ring; wherein the elastic ring and the support ring are adapted to be placed on opposites sides of a portion of fabric of the article of apparel or clothing and sewn to one another with the portion of the fabric therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elastic ring is made of at least one of rubber or silicone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elastic ring has an oval or elliptical shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elastic ring has circular, rectangular or square shape. ### Claim 9 An article of wearable apparel to which a physiologic sensor pod is selectively attachable, the article of wearable apparel including: a portion of fabric that is intended to be worn against a user's skin; and an elastic ring attached to the portion of fabric such that there is an opening through an interior of the elastic ring; wherein the elastic ring has an inner circumference that is slightly smaller than an outer circumference of a groove in an outer circumference of the physiologic sensor pod. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the elastic ring is adapted to accept the physiologic sensor pod and hold a surface of the physiologic sensor pod against the user's skin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein: the elastic ring includes a slit that extends from an outer circumference of the elastic ring toward, but not all the way to, the inner circumference of the elastic ring; and the portion of fabric is inserted into the slit and a peripheral portion of the elastic ring is sewn to or attached by an adhesive to the fabric. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, further comprising: a support ring having an outer circumference that is substantially the same as an outer circumference of the elastic ring and having an inner circumference that is larger than the inner circumference of the elastic ring; wherein the elastic ring and the support ring are placed on opposites sides of the portion of fabric and are sewn to one another with the portion of the fabric therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the article of wearable apparel comprises a shirt, and wherein the portion of fabric that is intended to be worn against a user's skin comprises a front panel of the shirt that is intended to be worn against a user's chest. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the article of wearable apparel comprises a sock, and wherein the portion of fabric that is intended to be worn against a user's skin comprises a portion of the sock that is adapted to surround a portion of a user's leg between an ankle and calf. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the article of wearable apparel comprises an arm band. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the article of wearable apparel comprises a headband. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The article of wearable apparel of claim 9, wherein the article of wearable apparel comprises a swim cap. ### Claim 18 A helmet adapted to have a physiologic sensor pod selectively attached thereto, wherein the physiologic sensor pod includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a groove extending around the peripheral surface of the housing, the helmet comprising: a helmet body; and an elastic ring attached to a portion of the helmet body, the electric ring having an inner circumference that is slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove extending around the peripheral surface of the housing of the physiologic sensor pod; wherein the elastic ring is adapted to accept the physiologic sensor pod and hold a surface of the physiologic sensor pod against a user's forehead, thereby enabling the physiologic sensor pod to be selectively attached to the helmet body.