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EP-4736742-A1 - SENSOR SUPPORT STRAP, SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE OF THE SENSOR SUPPORT STRAP

EP4736742A1EP 4736742 A1EP4736742 A1EP 4736742A1EP-4736742-A1

Abstract

Provided is a sensor support strap (10) for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap. The sensor support strap has a strap member securable to a body part of the subject. The sensor support strap has a flap (12), a main portion (14) and a hinging portion (16) provided between the flap and the main portion. The sensor support strap has an edge (34) which at least partly defines an opening of the strap member in which the body part is receivable when the strap member is secured to the body part of the subject such that a flap region (18) of the edge is contactable by the body part. The flap is at least partly delimited by the flap region and a flap side edge (32). The flap side edge extends from the flap region to reach the hinging portion so as to cause the strap member to preferentially hinge at the hinging portion. Additionally provided is a system comprising the sensor support strap and a sensor arrangement for being supported by the strap. Further provided is a method of use of the sensor support strap and a method of manufacturing the sensor support strap.

Inventors

  • van Veldhuizen, Gijsbert Hendrik

Assignees

  • Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241031

Claims (15)

  1. A sensor support strap (10) for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap, the sensor support strap comprising: a strap member securable to a body part of the subject, the strap member comprising: a flap (12); a main portion (14); a hinging portion (16) provided between the flap and the main portion; and an edge (34) which at least partly defines an opening of the strap member in which the body part is receivable when the strap member is secured to the body part of the subject such that a flap region (18) of the edge is contactable by the body part, wherein the flap is at least partly delimited by the flap region and a flap side edge (32), the flap side edge extending from the flap region to reach the hinging portion so as to cause the strap member to preferentially hinge at the hinging portion.
  2. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 1, wherein the strap member comprises at least one relief region (22) separating the flap side edge (32) from an adjacent portion (24) of the strap member, the at least one relief region being configured to enlarge when the flap (12) preferentially hinges at the hinging portion (16).
  3. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 2, wherein the at least one relief region (22) comprises a split in the strap member.
  4. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one relief region (22) comprises a flexible gusset connecting the flap (12) to the adjacent portion (24).
  5. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 4, wherein the flap (12) comprises a laminate having two or more layers, the flexible gusset having fewer layers than the laminate such that the stiffness of the flexible gusset is lower than the stiffness of the flap.
  6. The sensor support strap (10) of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least one of the relief region(s) (22) and a sensor location of the main strap (14) are visible to the subject when the sensor support strap is being donned by the subject.
  7. The sensor support strap (10) of any of claims 2 to 6, comprising an elongate strap element (28) for wrapping at least partly around the body part, a strap element relief region of the at least one relief region (22) separating part of the elongate strap element from the flap (12).
  8. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 7, comprising a further elongate strap element (30) joinable to the elongate strap element (28), the further elongate strap element having a shorter length than the elongate strap element.
  9. The sensor support strap (10) of any of claims 1 to 8, comprising a further flap (12') and second hinging portion (26) for allowing hinging of the further flap to enlarge the opening.
  10. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 9 when dependent from any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the further flap (12') defines the adjacent portion (24), the further flap being separated from the flap (12) by one of said at least one relief region (22).
  11. The sensor support strap (10) of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sensor support strap is configured for use on a foot of the subject.
  12. The sensor support strap (10) of claim 11, wherein the sensor support strap comprises a further edge, the further edge comprising a notch (36) which is alignable with one or more toes of the foot during use.
  13. A sensor support strap system comprising: a sensor support strap (10) of any of claims 1 to 12; and a sensor arrangement for being supported by the strap.
  14. Use of a sensor support strap (10) for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap, the sensor support strap comprising: a strap member securable to a body part of the subject, the strap member comprising: a flap (12); a main portion (14); and a hinging portion (16) provided between the flap and the main portion; and an edge (34) which at least partly defines an opening of the strap member in which the body part is receivable when the strap member is secured to the body part of the subject such that a flap region (18) of the edge is contactable by the body part, wherein the flap is at least partly delimited by the flap region and a flap side edge (32), the flap side edge extending from the flap region to reach the hinging portion so as to cause the strap member to preferentially hinge at the hinging portion.
  15. A method of manufacturing a sensor support strap (10) for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap, the sensor support strap comprising: a strap member securable to a body part of the subject, the strap member comprising: a flap (12); a main portion (14); a hinging portion (16) provided between the flap and the main portion; and an edge (34) which at least partly defines an opening of the strap member in which the body part is receivable when the strap member is secured to the body part of the subject such that a flap region (18) of the edge is contactable by the body part, wherein the flap is at least partly delimited by the flap region and a flap side edge (32), wherein the method comprises providing the strap member with a hinging portion, the strap member comprising a flap side edge extending from the flap region to reach the hinging portion so as to cause the strap member to preferentially hinge at the hinging portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a sensor support strap for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap. The invention additionally concerns a system comprising the sensor support strap and a sensor arrangement for being supported by the strap. The invention also relates to use of the sensor support strap for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing the sensor support strap. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various sensor support straps exist for allowing a subject to wear sensors on their body, such as vital signs sensors. Often, a subject will be required to wear such a strap for a prolonged period of time for monitoring purposes. Accordingly, the comfort of the user whilst wearing the strap is important. A common problem with such sensor support straps is that they can leave pressure marks on the subject's body. This can be the case when the strap tension is too high, or simply when the strap has been worn for a prolonged period of time. For example, in the case of baby monitoring systems which include a strap for securing around the baby's foot and/or ankle, pressure marks are often observed in the region where the top of the foot, e.g. the instep, meets the bottom of the shin. One approach for improving user comfort would be to simply design the strap such that the edge is located away from such a pressure mark prone area, thereby avoiding contact between the edge of the strap and this area. For example, in the case of a strap for securing around a foot and ankle, the strap may be designed such that the relevant edge is intended to sit further down the foot, e.g. further down the instep, away from the area between the instep and the shin. However, this may be undesirable since the user will often attempt to align said edge with this area regardless of the intended positioning of the strap, resulting in no improvement in comfort, and incorrect sensor placement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It would be desirable to provide a sensor support strap for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap which provides enhanced comfort for the subject. The invention is defined by the claims. According to examples in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sensor support strap for allowing a subject to wear a sensor arrangement supported by the strap, the sensor support strap comprising: a strap member securable to a body part of the subject, the strap member comprising: a flap, a main portion, a hinging portion provided between the flap and the main portion, and an edge which at least partly defines an opening of the strap member in which the body part is receivable when the strap member is secured to the body part of the subject such that a flap region of the edge is contactable by the body part, wherein the flap is at least partly delimited by the flap region and a flap side edge, the flap side edge extending from the flap region to reach the hinging portion so as to cause the strap member to preferentially hinge at the hinging portion. In this way, a pressure exerted by at least the flap region of the edge on the subject may be reduced. This is because the flap may be able to hinge, in other words fold, to accommodate movement and/or a shape of the subject, e.g. a shape of the body part and/or movement of the body part, e.g. a bending area of the body part. This may enhance the comfort of the subject and reduce the likelihood of the subject experiencing red marks as a result of the pressure exerted by the edge. The hinging portion can be provided in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the hinging portion is provided by a line of weakness at which the strap member preferentially folds. The line of weakness can be formed, for example, by the strap member being compressed, e.g. by a folding process in which the flap is folded relative to the main portion, along a line defining a boundary between the flap and the main portion. In other embodiments, the hinging portion is provided by a strip of material which separates the flap from the main portion, which strip of material is more flexible than the flap and the main portion so that the strip of material flexes, rather than the flap and the main portion, during hinging of the strap member at the hinging portion. The body part may comprise a moveable joint of the subject. The edge may, for example, be contactable by a bending area of the moveable joint. In some embodiments, the strap member comprises at least one relief region separating the flap side edge from an adjacent portion of the strap member, the at least one relief region being configured to enlarge when the flap preferentially hinges at the hinging portion. An enlargeable at least one relief region may enable the opening to enlarge to accommodate movement and/or the shape of the subject, in addition to the flap being able to hin