Adjustable Precordial Electrode Array for Tangle-Free ECG Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of obtaining a standard precordial 12-lead ECG reading is time-consuming and prone to faulty readings due to loose or dirty electrode clips, which can introduce resistance and noise, especially when connecting multiple electrodes to an ECG monitor.
Innovation Solution
A set of precordial electrodes pre-attached along a single electrical cord with adjustable spacing and wire corrals to accommodate different patient sizes, eliminating the need for individual attachment of each lead wire to the ECG monitor, and preventing cord tangling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple individual lead wires with clips are used to connect electrodes to the ECG monitor, then each electrode can be individually connected, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to misconnections
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual lead wires and clips are merged into a single integrated lead array with pre-attached electrode connectors. The lead array combines multiple electrical conductors and connectors into one unified structure that can be attached to the ECG monitor as a single unit, eliminating the need to sort and connect multiple separate wires.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode connectors are pre-attached to the electrical conductors during manufacturing, creating a pre-assembled lead array. This preliminary action eliminates the need for technicians to perform individual attachment operations during patient setup, reducing both time and potential for error.
2Reliability
If multiple individual lead wires are used, then each electrode can be connected independently, but loose or dirty clips can introduce resistance and noise
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrical conductors are combined into a single insulated cable with connectors integrated at regular intervals. This merging eliminates the use of loose individual clips that can become dirty or loose, replacing them with factory-attached connectors that maintain consistent electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulated cable acts as an intermediary structure that holds and protects the electrical conductors. The insulation layer prevents contamination and maintains stable electrical connections, while the integrated connector design ensures reliable contact between electrodes and the ECG monitor.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single electrical cord with fixed electrode spacing is used, then setup is simplified, but it cannot accommodate different patient body sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The lead array incorporates flexible sections that allow the electrical cord to bend and adjust to different configurations. This dynamic flexibility enables the same lead array to accommodate various patient body sizes and shapes while maintaining proper electrode spacing and preventing cord tangling.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical cord is constructed with flexible insulation and routing that allows it to conform to different body contours. The flexible design enables adaptation to various patient sizes without requiring multiple fixed-configuration cords, while the streamlined single-cord structure reduces tangling compared to multiple separate wires.
Data Source
AI summary
A set of precordial electrodes are pre-attached along a single electrical cord where the electrodes can adjust in separation distances to accommodate different sizes of patients without cord looping or tangling. The invention employs cord corrals that permit a distance between adjacent electrodes to be shortened or lengthened while organizing excess cord. By allowing the adjacent electrode connectors to be shortened or lengthened, the lead array of electrode connectors may be used on a variety of different patient demographics and body sizes. While the single electrical cord eliminates the need for individual attachment of each of the lead wires of each of the electrodes to the ECG monitor.