Apparatus, System, and Method for Providing a Heart Rate Monitor with Antimicrobial Contacts

Abstract

An exercise machine including a heart rate monitor with antimicrobial contacts. The exercise machine includes one or more hand grips and a plurality of heart rate contacts. The plurality of heart rate contacts are disposed on the one or more hand grips. Each of the plurality of heart rate contacts includes a contact surface and an electrical insulator. The contact surface includes an oligodynamic material. The electrical insulator is disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body. The contact surface is electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A exercise machine comprising:
 one or more hand grips; and   a plurality of heart rate contacts disposed on the one or more hand grips;   wherein the each of the plurality of heart rate contacts comprises:
 a contact surface comprising an oligodynamic material; and 
 an electrical insulator disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body, the contact surface electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the oligodynamic material comprises copper. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the oligodynamic material comprises an alloy of copper and nickel. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises approximately 80% copper. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises between 18% and 20% nickel. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine is a treadmill. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine is a stationary exercise cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine is an elliptical machine. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a handlebar, wherein the one or more hand grips are disposed on the handlebar. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 9 , wherein hand grips are disposed on the handlebar at a plurality of gripping positions for each hand of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor connected to the contact surface by a conductor, the processor configured to derive a heart rate of a user contacting the contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a four-wire sensing circuit connecting the plurality of heart rate sensors to a processor. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an antimicrobial surface treatment on the hand grip. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise machine of  claim 13 , wherein the antimicrobial surface treatment comprises a durable liquid spray. 
     
     
         15 . A exercise machine comprising:
 one or more hand grips comprising an antimicrobial surface treatment; and   a plurality of heart rate contacts disposed on the one or more hand grips;   wherein the each of the plurality of heart rate contacts comprises:
 a contact surface comprising an alloy of copper and nickel; and 
 an electrical insulator disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body, the contact surface electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator. 
   
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 15  wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises approximately 80% copper. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine of  claim 15  wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises between 18% and 20% nickel. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing an exercise machine, the method comprising:
 providing one or more hand grips;   disposing a plurality of heart rate contacts on the one or more hand grips, the heart rate contacts comprising an oligodynamic material;   electrically isolating the plurality of heart rate contacts from the one or more hand grips; and   connecting the heart rate contacts to a processor to derive a heart rate of a user.