Adjustable Wearable Electrodes With Collapsible Gel Reservoirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode systems for electrocardiography and electroencephalography face challenges in achieving uniform contact with the skin, especially in the presence of hair, requiring specialized training and being uncomfortable for extended wear due to gel loss and pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrode assemblies with adjustable, collapsible, or telescoping designs that dispense conductive gel and include a protective skirt to maintain contact and comfort, featuring a skin preparing surface for clearing hair and skin particles, and a valve to prevent gel loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive gel is applied to the skin surface to facilitate electrical conduction, then electrical connection quality is improved, but the placement process becomes time-consuming and requires specialized training
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is pre-filled with conductive gel in a reservoir before use. The gel is already positioned and ready to be dispensed onto the skin surface, eliminating the need for separate gel application steps and specialized training during the placement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode structure incorporates a nested reservoir within the electrode body that contains the conductive gel. The reservoir is positioned inside the electrode assembly, allowing the gel to be delivered directly from the nested structure onto the skin when the electrode is applied.
2Ease of operation
If specialized electrode assemblies that dispense gel are used, then ease of operation is improved, but comfort during extended wear deteriorates due to gel loss and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly incorporates a collapsible reservoir that dynamically adjusts its volume and shape. As the patient moves or changes position, the reservoir can collapse or expand to maintain gentle contact without excessive pressure, and the gel is dispensed progressively rather than all at once, preventing overflow and improving comfort during extended wear.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the electrode bottom surface area is increased to improve comfort, then pressure on the skin is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly uses a flexible, collapsible reservoir structure that can conform to the skin surface. This flexible shell design allows the electrode to distribute pressure over a larger area by collapsing outward, improving comfort without requiring a permanently large or complex rigid structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These electrode assemblies provide improved comfort and extended wear by reducing direct pressure, maintaining electrical connection quality, and simplifying the placement process, even in the presence of hair, while minimizing gel loss and ensuring consistent contact.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive gel may be applied to the skin surface to facilitate electrical conduction with the electrode
Implementation Method 2
Collapse, compression, or telescoping of the bottom surface may thereby decrease the direct force and/or pressure applied by the distal member(s) of the electrode assembly bottom surface to the skin
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for use of wearable electrode assemblies. The electrode assemblies improve comfort by providing increased overall surface area of their bottom surfaces, which make contact with the patient's scalp and hair. Collapse, compression, or telescoping of the bottom surface will thereby decrease the direct force and/or pressure applied by the distal member or members of the bottom surfaces to the skin. This may be advantageous in patients who have little to no hair in electrode contact areas, patient populations that are particularly skin-sensitive, and/or patients which must wear the electrode assemblies of an extended time period. The electrode assemblies further include structures to dispense and/or maintain conductive gel placed over the patient's skin, thereby maintaining electrical connection quality, and/or to facilitate the clearing of skin and/or hair prior to establishing an electrical connection.