NL1043384B1

NL1043384B1 - Activator for electronic circuit

Info

Publication number: NL1043384B1
Application number: NL1043384A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Ir Franciscus Joannes Leonardus Everaerts Dr
Original assignee: Everaerts \Sieben Holding
Priority date: 2019-09-18
Filing date: 2019-09-18
Publication date: 2021-05-18

Abstract

A device for reversibly activating an electronic circuit comprising a power source, contact areas for making an electrical connection with the electronic circuit and to each other. Contacts of the contact areas have a default position in which the contact areas are separated by an electrical insulation means, or a default position in which the contact areas are electrically connected. The contact areas are comprised in a flexible electrically conductive Iayer of flexible substrates, and the contact areas are arranged for being electrically connected to each other or for being electrically separated by an electrical insulation means. The electronic circuit is preferably arranged for conducting electrical current from the power source through the contact areas when the contact areas are electrically connected. The device may be used in a piaster to be adhered to a person's skin. The piaster may be equipped with an ECG sensor or an Electromyography sensor. 1043384

Description

ACTIVATOR FOR ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates lo devices and methods for making and breaking a connection in an electric circuit, More particular the invention relates to electrical connections in medical devices,

BACKGROUND Allowing a user of an electrical device, such as a medical device which can be worn on the user's body, io switch the device on or off, or in general, making or breaking electrical connections in such a device, is a useful and often necessary feature of such a device. The user of the device, or a physician who helps the user with applying the 158 device on the user, may need to have contro! when the power is turned on or off. This is especially useful in wearable devices which are battery operated. By turning the device only on when in use, energy is saved, and the battery power supply may be extended, In some cases, a one-time tuning on of a device is sufficient and there may be no need for turning the device off. For example, a digital watch may comprise a small electrically insulating foll which is positioned between the watch'’s pre-installed battery and the electronic circuit. By removing the foil, the battery contacts are connected to the electronic circuit of the watch and the slectrical current can be provided by the batlery. Some other devices are designed {fo stay on for a predetermined amount of time, after being switched on, and a buill-n battery may be configured to provide just sufficient power for the duration of the on-time use, A typical example comprises a medical device which needs to be wom by a patient for a certain amount of time. The device may for example comprise a sensor for gathering bio data, such as electrocardiography (ECG) data. As the device is intended for measuring these data continuously, no offswitch is required, or at least the user is not supposed to tum the device off at any time.

Typical current switches comprise mechanical, electronic or siectro-mechanical switches, such as a single or double pole throw switch, a push bution switch, a {toggle switch, a mit switch, a float “switch, magnetically induced switches, relays and fransistors. These switches are typically used for interaction between the user and the device. The swilches may be used for turning on or off of power, but also for triggering of a state, such as sleep of wake mode. Since the electronic devices became smaller, the switches needed to become smaller as well. The limits for the size of a switch which is arranged for being manually operated are mainly defined by the ability for a user to operate the switch. Therefore, bution switches, for example, are available al very small size, such as dip switches and micro switches, but from a user's point of view, these switches are often too small to operate in a convenient and reliable manner. For a user, the on or off slate of such a small swilch is very difficull to distinguish. To remedy this, manufacturers of electronic circuits often add a light or other kind of indicator to indicate that a switch is in a certain state.

A further trend in electronics comprises integration and large-scale integration of electronic components {such as transistors) in electronic circuits and integrated circuits, typically integrated on a printed circuit board (PCB).

PCBs used to be quite rigid, but currently also flexible PCBs are available, such as a flexible foil with integrated electronics. Conductive traces are printed using jet or screen-printing techniques and components can be added directly onto the foil, Disadvantages of the current art solutions comprise that traditional switches are relatively large, or at least add considerable thickness to a printed circuit, or have become too small to be easily and intuitively operated by a user. Especially for applications such as medical devices which are incorporated in a patch or a sticker, the requirement is often that they need to be as flat as possible, in order to be the least possible intrusive for the patent wearing the device. Typical current solutions, such as the foil of a battery watch as described above, do not provide a watertight solution and are therefore also not suitable for many medical applications. Alternative switches, such as magnetically induced swiches have the disadvantage that they can be triggered unintentionally by any magnetic field, which is even more undesirable in a medical device.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION it is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient, reliable and intuitively operable switch which adds as little thickness to an electronic circuit as possible. A further object is fo provide such a switch for use in a baltery-operated wearable device, such as a medical device i.e. a medical patch or plaster, and which increases the efficient use of the battery power. The object is realized by the following clauses.

1. A device for activating an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit comprising a power source, two or more contact areas arranged for making an electrical connection with the electronic circuit and to each other, whereby a first and a second contact of the two or more contact areas have a default position in which the contact areas are separated by an slectrical insulation means, or a default position in which the contact areas are electrically connected, respectively, characterized in that, the first and second contact areas are comprised in a flexible electrically conductive layer on a first and second flexible substrate respectively, and the contact areas are arranged for being electrically connected lo each other or for being slectrically separated by an electrical insulation means.

2. The device according to clause 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit is | arranged for conducting electrical current from the power source through the contact areas when the contact areas are electrically connected.

3. The device according fo any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the electronic circuit is arranged for detecting that the contact areas are electrically connected or -separated, and subsequently activating a functionality of the electronic circuit.

4. The device according fo any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the functionality comprises any one of the group comprising: ~ turning power on or off; - starting or stopping a sensor reading of a sensor of the device; ~ waking up or putting in sleep mode of the device.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the insulating means comprises an electrically insulating foil.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the insulating means comprises a gap between the contact areas.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the contact areas are electrically connected or -separated by removing or inserting the electrically insulating means, respectively.

8. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that, the contact areas are arranged for being electrically connected, or -separated by exerting a force on the contact areas a direction towards each other, or away from each other respectively.

8. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the contact areas are connected or separated respectively by an elsclrically conductive- or an electrically insulating adhesive layer respectively.

10. The device according to clause 9, characterized in that the adhesive layer is arranged for making a substantially continuous physical connection between the first and second contact,

11. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the contact areas are connected by an insulating adhesive layer which is arranged for becoming electrically conductive by exerling pressure on the adhesive layer.

12. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the glectrically conductive adhesive layer comprises an electrically conductive adhesive material or a combination of an adhesive material and an electrically conductive material.

13. The device according fo clause 12, characterized in that the electrically conductive material comprises any one of the group comprising: - metal particles; ~ carbon particles, such as graphite particles.

14. The device according fo any one of the clauses 12 or 13, characterized in that the adhesive material comprises any one of the group comprising: - a pressure sensitive adhesive; - a synthetic adhesive, such as an acrylic or cyanoacrylate; ~ silicone; - polyurethane; - & biological adhesive.

15, The device according to any one of {he clauses, characterized in that the device is used in a plaster arranged for being adhered fo a person's skin, said plaster comprising a sensor of the group comprising: ~~ ECG sensor - Electromyography sensor.

The present invention is best described as an improved membrane switch, which is integrated in an electronic circuit and preferably in a printed electronic circuit, such as a printed circuit board, By using this integrated switch, sufficient flexibility is provided, A flexible circuit is, for example, desirable when an electronic circuit needs to be bent 5 to follow body contours, such as in medical devices. By implementing the integrated switch according to the present invention, a regular, often relatively thick and large switch, which is usually configured as an add-on part, may be omitled.

in particular the invention proposes that conductive traces are printed on a polymer layer and that components may be fixed by means of conductive glue.

Optionally a PCB is glued onto a circuit. The invention allows the circuit to be switched on or off. In one embodiment the system may also be switched from a sleep mode into a wake mode, For example, in a system with an intemal clock, there is always a voltage running on the system, but modem systems allow to be set in a sleep mode, which has just a very low power consumption.

One particular application of the invention comprises a patch that is glued to a person's skin, The glue is protected by a foil, in a similar manner as a plaster which reguires that a protective foil must first be stripped off before the plaster can be applied to the skin. In this embodiment, the foil is conductive. The patch, in a way can detect that the foil i» present by detecting conduction. As long as there is conduction at the predetermined or detected level, the system stays in sleep mode. Once the foil ís removed, it is the trigger to wake up. The alternative Is to build up the plaster from multiple layers using a separating layer to make the foil so that the stretching of the foil causes a connection fo be broken. Preferably the conductive foil is less flexible than the substrate, therefor if breaks before the substrate is damaged. This way mechanical stretching will cause the substrate to stretch, while the conductive structure is ruptured. The rupture will in this way cause the trigger. Currently there are also pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) available, which are electrically conductive when pressure is applied. This PSA is may be used to connect multiple layers with selective conductivity. Alternatively, a patch is provided with a thin metal conductor that may be broken, and when it is broken stops being electrically conductive.

By applying the proposed measures, an active patch (or a so called "smart patch”) is created, which requires very little or no additional action by a user in order to activate an electrical system, such as a sensor device. The user does not need to remove strips from batteries, or place batteries. The combination of patch and protective foil whereby breaking a contact by breaking the foil is in this way an easy and effective solution. lt should be noted that an electronic circuit may also be configured to initiate a contact and close a circuit when electrical conductivity of the smart patch is interrupted by separating the foil from the patch, or by breaking the foil.

There are some example embodiments of the invention, which are explained in more detail below.

in a first embodiment two flexible circuits containing conductors, for example arranged as strokes or traces, are kept separate by means of a foil. Once the foil is removed, the two conductors are connected to each other and an electrical circuit is closed.

in a second embodiment two flexible circuits containing electrical conduciors are connected by means of placing a conductive sticker in such a manner that the two conductors are electrically connected and held together. When the foil is pulled away the connection is lost | In a third embodiment two adjacent flexible substrates A and B contain a conductive layer, and A and B are by default slectrically connected by the conductive layer. The two substrales are bonded being glued together or by a foil with a weak area W. A and B may be pulled apart which results in a loss of the electrical connection between A and B. A strip, functioning as a streich protector 8 is applied to keep A and B together after A and B have been pulled apart.

Another example is provided in the following. A flexible substrate SA may be provided with an slectrically conductive layer LA, and a flexible substrate SB may be provided with electrically conductive layer LB. Layers LA and LB are brought together to create an electrical connection. The layers are held together by an adhesive, which may be arranged for providing a permanent or semi-permanent bond, When using an adhesive which provides a semi-permanent bond, the bond will only be broken when Jayers LA and LB are torn apart with a cerlain force.

When the two layers LA, LB are separated the electrical connection is lost, which may be identified by the electrical circuit as a trigger and in fact this will act as an electrical switch. An example application comprises a sticker/patch with a transport layer in which case the semi-permanent adhesive layer may be a medical grade/skin-friendly adhesive.

In particular, the invention is useful for so-called Holter patches, In medicine, a Holter monitor {often simply Holter) is a type of ambulatory slectrocardiography device, a portable device for cardiac monitoring {the monitoring of the electrical activity of the cardiovascular system) for at least 24 to 48 hours (often for two weeks at a time).

The Holter's most common use is for monitoring ECG heart activity {slectrocardiography or ECG). iis extended recording period is sometimes useful for observing occasional cardiac arrhythmias which would be difficult to identify in a shorter period. For patients having more transient symptoms, a cardiac event monitor which can be worn for a month or more can be used. A further development comprises a Holter patch which incorporates the ECG monitor sensor and circuitry in a convenient relatively flat device which can be worn by a patient as a plaster or patch. The invention is especially useful for the application of a Holter patch, because there is no need for a physical switch. Instead, a switch mode power supply, preferably based on a MOSFET, is proposed to function as the main power switch. The main advantage of a MOSFET is that # requires almost no input current to control the load current, when compared with bipolar transistors. In practice this means that the Molier patch is kept in storage in sleep mode with very little to none power consumption, The patch itself is covered by an electrically conductive adhesive foil and as soon as the foil is removed the main swilch is triggered, because the change in conductivity acts as a trigger for the MOSFET. Subsequently the electronic cireuilry of the patch changes into wake mode, The same, or a similar feature may be used to detect if the patch itself is removed. Alternatively, the patch may be covered by a non-conducting foil. In this case, the patch comprises two electrodes set apart at a distance and covered by the foil. The electrodes are exposed as soon as the foil is removed. When the palch is subsequently adhered to the patient's ski, the electrodes make contact to the skin and are electrically connected by the natural skin conductance. This connection triggers a (MOSFET based) circuitry that brings the palch in wake mode. in another embodiment, instead of using two electrodes integrated in the patch, the electrically conductive patch, after removal of a non-conductive covering foil, acts as one electrode, whereas another electrode which may be used to adhere fo the patient's skin at another location of the skin, may be used as a second electrode. Subsequently an electrical connection between the patch and the skin electrode is established, which serves as a trigger for the (MOSFET based) circuit to bring the patch in wake mode.

instead of using a change in electrics! conductance bebween the electrodes, and/or between a combination of patch and electrode as a trigger to bring the patch in wake mode, this change in electrical conductance be used as a trigger to bring the patch in sleep mode, The circuitry may also be configured to change from one mode to another mode whenever a threshold in changing of electrical conductivity is detected. This is in particular useful in the following scenario. A patch, being in slesp mode by default, is adhered {o the patient's skin, First, the patch is automatically switched in wake mode, because of a detected change In conductivity in the manner as described above, This requires no additional manipulation of the patient or of a physician adhering the patch, One does not need to worry about switching on the patch in the right manner and thers is no risk of forgetting to switch the patch on. Subsequently, the patch starts its activity, like ECG monitoring. This activity may continue for a short time, a couple of days, or even weeks or months, When the monitoring period is to be ended, the patch is removed from the patient's skin, Subsequently a change in conductivity is detected in the manner described above. This triggers the patch to switch to sleep made. There is no need for a physician or the patient for an additional manipulation to switch off the patch, In this way, battery consumption is saved in a convenient and effective manner.

When the patch is adhered again to the patient's skin, the patch is swilched automatically in wake mode etc, until the battery is depleted. Optionally a battery power measuring circuit may be integrated in the patch, which will wam the user by Tor example a LED that the baftery power is toc low, or will soon be running out. The circuitry of the patch may also switch to a battery save mode, comprising for example that the patch is put in an allernating sleep-wake mode cycle. When the patch is in a sleep mode and the patch is removed, the sleep mode will be maintained and the alternating sleep-wake mods cycle will be terminated, until a significant change in conductance is detected again, indicating that the patch is again adhered to the patient's skin, Removal of the patch may for example be done for changing of the battery. When the patch detects that there is again sufficient battery power, the alternating sleep-wake mode cycle may be changed in a continuous wake mode until once again a significant change {or absence) in conductance is detected, which will trigger the sleep mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figures show views of embodiments in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 1 shows a cross-section of a patch. FIGURE 2a shows a cross-section of an alternative embodiment in a first situation. FIGURE 2b shows a cross-section a second situation of the patch of figure 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is now described by the following aspects and embodiments, with reference to the figures. To facilitate easy interpretation of the figures, hereafier a list of references as used in the figures is included. 101ab patch support layer 102 patch electronics housing 103 electrical circuit including {preferably MOSFET) switch circuit 104 power supply (battery) 105 stretch protector 1114 first electrically conductive- and adhesive layer 111b second electrically conductive- and adhesive layer 112 protective top-layer ' 113a,b protective shest 114a,b electrically non-conductive- and adhesive layer for adhering plaster, Le. to skin 115 contact area between conductive layers 1114,b 116 insulating gap between conductive layers 1114,b 121 electrical connection between electrically conductive layer 111a and switch circuit 103 122 electrical connection between electrically conductive layer 111b and switch | circuit 103.

iQ FIGURE 1 shows a cross-section of a patch 100 in accordance with the invention, wherein the patch support layer 101a.b (also called carrier) is the basic material of patch 100. The material of patch support layer 101a.b is preferably a foam, or several layers of foam, but may be of any material which is preferably flexible and/or resilient and electrically insulating. The electronics module (a printed circuit board, PCB) is typically located in this foam layer. In some cases, the patch is finished with a top layer 112 for protective purposes. Top layer 112 is preferably a fabric. On the underside of the patch an electrically non-conductive adhesive layer 1144,b for adhering patch 100 to i.e. skin is provided, with a protective sheet 113a,b removably | 10 covering layers 114a.b. Protective sheets 113a,b prevent patch 100 from unwanted sticking before use.

The patch is provided with a first and second electrically conductive layer 1114 and 111b respectively. Conductive layers 111a,b are connected to an electronics module which is powered by a power source Le. a battery. Typically, one of conductive layers 111a,b is connected to the "+" of the battery and the other to the PCB.

in another embodiment, one conductive layer is connected to a signal contact of the POB and the other to another signal contact such as a reset button.

In yet another embodiment, one conductive layer is connected to the ”-” of the battery and the other to the PCB. The conductive layer is made of a material that conducts electrons. The conductive layer is either provided with an adhesive layer or may be comprised of adhesive (sticky) material (i.e. glue). Such sticky and electrically conductive layer may be obtained by, for example, mixing a metal or metal particles in a glue. A typically effective glue results from mixing a non-seif-hardening glue with mixed carbon particles, for example a silicone-carbon composition.

The resistance of conductive layers 111a,b is preferably as close as possible to 0 ohm. In certain applications, some resistance may be desired. By mixing in less conductive particles, resistance may be increased to the desired level.

As soon as the protective sheet 113a is removed, the two conductive layers are glued together by moving section 100a.b in direction of arrows 1001a.b respectively.

Some pressure on top layer 112 may for example put both sections 100ab into sufficient contact to consequently bring conductive layers 111a,b into physical contact with each other. From this moment on, a current can flow through conductive layers 111a,b and an action may take place. Actions may comprise that the PCB is supplied il ’ with power, a port on the PCB is activated, or multiple ports on the PCB are shored circuited. Conductive layers 111b is provided with an adhesive layer 114b on the bottom. This adhesive layer ensures that the conductive layers 1114,b, even when connected and adhered fo each other, are stuck to the skin, Adhesive layer 114b is electrically insulating (non-conductive) for protecting the skin from the signal/vollage that is put on conductive layer combination 111a,b. Optionally, adhesive layer 114b may be kept absent at the location of adhesive layer 111b, if conductive layers 111a,b are brought into contact with each other and the patch is applied to the skin, any voltage present on conductive layers11123,b will be transferred to the skin, This can be an advantage if, for example, conductive layers 111a,b carry the ”-” of the battery, resulting in the "-" of the battery becoming the "0" and carrying the same voltage as present on the skin. This prevents a possible signal drift, Instead of leaving out a segment of adhesive layer 114b, this segment may also be provided with similar electrically conductive characteristics as conductive layers 111a,b which results in a similar effect.

| FIGURE 2a shows a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a patch 100, wherein electrically conductive layers 111a,b are positioned in close contact to gach other at position indicated by arrow 115. This short circuits electrical connections 121,122 of electric circuit 103. Electric circuit 103 is preferably a MOSFET switch circuit. In the closed circuit state, the status of the program running on electronics incorporated in patch may for example be "sleep mode". Conductive layers 111a,b are preferably non-stretchable, but flexible. Conductive layers 111a,b are preferably adhered to patch support layer 101a and preferably made of electrically conductive self-adhesive material as described above. This makes sticking of the patch to a person's skin possible.

| Patch support layer 101a may supports electronics {not shown}, switch circuit 103 and battery 104 which powers the electronics. Electronics, switch circuit 103 and battery 104 are preferably enclosed for protection by patch electronic housing 102.

Activation of patch 100 may be initiated by a user by pulling conductive layers 111a,b form each other in the direction of arrows 1002a,b. This leads to an insulating gap (indicated by arrow 118) between conductive layers 111a,b. The consequently breaking of the connection leads to an interruption of the electric circuit and activates another stale, such as "wake mode". To prevent too much stretching of conductive layers and/or patch support layer 1013, electrically non-conductive stretch protector 108 is provided, which is connected at one end to conductive layer 111a and on the other end fo conductive layer 111b.

When conductive layers 111a,b are pulled apart, stretch protector 105 is straightened until ts maximum as shown in figure 2b.

For this purpose, streich protector 105 is preferably made of non-stretchable flexible material. in all the above mentioned examples the use of conductive adhesive layers have the additional advantage in that the stretching these layers, removing protective foils vicelera, enables making or breaking of slectrical connections reversible.

A user, a physician, or a technician, for example, is therefore able to reset the switch circuit, or change the mode of the electronics when desired.

By taking away the patch from the skin, a connection may be broken for example, e.g. leading to a reset Electronics may also be programmed to start from a default wake mode instead of a sleep mode or vice versa. |

18 it should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that a person skilled in the art will be able lo design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as firniting the claim.

Use of the verb "to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The article "the" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. in the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS

1. Een apparaat (100) voor het activeren van een elektronische schakeling (103), waarbij het elektronische circuit (103) bestaat uit een stroombron (104), twee of meer contact gebieden (111a,b) die zijn ingericht voor het maken van een elektrische verbinding met het elektronische circuit (103) en met elkaar, waarbij een eerste en een tweede contact van de twee of meer contact gebieden een standaardpositie hebben waarin de contact gebieden worden gescheiden door een elektrische isolatie middel, respectievelijk waarbij in een standaardpositie de contact gebieden elektrisch zijn aangesloten, met het kenmerk dat, de eerste en tweede contact gebieden bestaan uit een flexibele elektrisch geleidende laag (111a,b) op respectievelijk een eerste en tweede flexibele drager (112,114b), en de contact gebieden geschikt zijn om elektrisch met elkaar te verbinden of om elektrisch gescheiden te worden door een elektrische isolatie middel (113a,116).An apparatus (100) for activating an electronic circuit (103), wherein the electronic circuit (103) consists of a power source (104), two or more contact areas (111a,b) arranged to make an electrical connection to the electronic circuit (103) and to each other, wherein a first and a second contact of the two or more contact areas have a standard position in which the contact areas are separated by an electrical insulating means, respectively wherein in a standard position the contact areas are electrically connected, characterized in that the first and second contact areas consist of a flexible electrically conductive layer (111a,b) on a first and second flexible support (112,114b), respectively, and the contact areas are adapted to be electrically connected with interconnecting or to be electrically separated by an electrical insulating means (113a,116).

2. Het apparaat (100) volgens conclusie 1, met het kenmerk dat het elektronische circuit (103) is ingericht voor het geleiden van elektrische stroom van de stroombron (104) door de contact gebieden (111a,b) wanneer de contact gebieden (111a,b) elektrisch zijn verbonden.The device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit (103) is arranged to conduct electric current from the power source (104) through the contact areas (111a,b) when the contact areas (111a) ,b) are electrically connected.

3. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat het elektronische circuit (103) is ingericht om te detecteren dat de contact gebieden (111a,b) elektrisch zijn verbonden of gescheiden, en om vervolgens een functionaliteit van het elektronische circuit (103) te activeren.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit (103) is arranged to detect that the contact areas (111a,b) are electrically connected or separated, and then to provide a functionality of activate the electronic circuit (103).

4. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de functionaliteit bestaat uit één van de groep bestaande uit: - de stroom in- of uitschakelen; - het starten of stoppen van een sensor lezing van een sensor van het apparaat;The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functionality is one of the group consisting of: - turning the power on or off; - starting or stopping a sensor reading from a sensor of the device;

- het wakker worden of in slaapstand zetten van het apparaat.- waking up or putting the device to sleep.

5. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat het isolerende middel een elektrisch isolerende folie (113a) omvat.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating means comprises an electrically insulating foil (113a).

6. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat het isolerende middel een gat (116) tussen de contact gebieden (111a,b) omvat.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating means comprises a gap (116) between the contact areas (111a,b).

7. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de contact gebieden (111a,b) elektrisch verbonden zijn of -gescheiden door het verwijderen, repsectievelijk inbrengen van het elektrisch isolerende middel (113a). î The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact areas (111a,b) are electrically connected or separated by removing or inserting the electrically insulating means (113a) respectively. î

8. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de contact gebieden (111a,b) zijn ingericht om elektrisch verbonden, of - gescheiden te worden door het uitoefenen van een kracht op de contact gebieden (111a,b) in een richting naar elkaar, respectievelijk in een richting (1002a,b) weg van elkaar.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact areas (111a,b) are arranged to be electrically connected, or - separated by applying a force to the contact areas (111a, b) in a direction towards each other and in a direction (1002a,b) away from each other, respectively.

9. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de contact gebieden (111a,b) zijn ingericht om te worden verbonden of - gescheiden doordat zij respectievelijk elektrisch geleidende- of elektrisch isolerende klevende lagen (111a,b) omvatten.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact areas (111a,b) are arranged to be connected or separated by having electrically conductive or electrically insulating adhesive layers (111a,b) respectively. ) include.

10. Het apparaat (100) volgens conclusie 9, met het kenmerk dat de klevende lagen (111a,b) zijn ingericht voor het maken van een substantieel continue fysieke verbinding tussen het eerste en tweede contact gebied (111a,b).The device (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the adhesive layers (111a,b) are arranged to make a substantially continuous physical connection between the first and second contact areas (111a,b).

11.Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de contact gebieden (111a,b) isolerende klevende lagen omvatten (111a,b) die zijn ingericht om elektrisch geleidend te worden door het uitoefenen van druk op de klevende lagen (111a,b).The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact areas (111a,b) comprise insulating adhesive layers (111a,b) adapted to become electrically conductive by applying pressure to the adhesive layers (111a,b).

12. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat de elektrisch geleidende klevende lagen (111a,b) bestaan uit een elektrisch geleidend lijm materiaal of een combinatie van een lijm materiaal en een elektrisch geleidend materiaal.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive adhesive layers (111a,b) consist of an electrically conductive adhesive material or a combination of an adhesive material and an electrically conductive material.

13.Het apparaat (100) volgens conclusie 12, met het kenmerk dat het elektrisch geleidende materiaal bestaat uit één van de groep bestaande uit: - metalen deeltjes; - koolstofdeeltjes, zoals grafiet deeltjes.The device (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that the electrically conductive material is one of the group consisting of: - metallic particles; - carbon particles, such as graphite particles.

14. Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de conclusies 12 of 13, met het kenmerk dat het lijm materiaal bestaat uit één van de groep bestaande uit: - een drukgevoelige lijm; - een synthetische lijm, zoals een acryl of cyanoacrylaat; - siliconen; - polyurethaan; - een biologische lijm.The device (100) according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the adhesive material is one of the group consisting of: - a pressure sensitive adhesive; - a synthetic adhesive, such as an acrylic or cyanoacrylate; - silicone; - polyurethane; - a biological glue.

15.Het apparaat (100) volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat het apparaat (100) wordt gebruikt in een pleister die is ingericht om te worden gehecht aan iemands huid, waarbij de pleister bestaat uit een sensor van de groep bestaande uit: - ECG-sensor; - Elektromyografie sensor.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (100) is used in a patch adapted to be adhered to a person's skin, the patch comprising a sensor of the group consisting of off: - ECG sensor; - Electromyography sensor.