Angulated EIT Electrode Belt for Unrestricted Rib Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electro impedance tomography (EIT) belts restrict thoracic movement during respiration, leading to suboptimal ventilation and artifacts in measurements due to their restrictive design and elastic materials that impede natural chest movement.
Innovation Solution
An electro impedance measuring belt with an array of electrodes placed along the ribs, using a non-stretchable, flexible support structure with angulated legs that follow the rib anatomy, allowing for an oblique placement that mimics the natural rib movement and reduces the need for elastic materials, thereby enhancing comfort and image representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic belt is used to ensure good electrode contact, then electrode contact quality is improved, but thoracic movement during respiration is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The belt is divided into multiple independent electrode modules that can move relative to each other. Each module contains electrodes mounted on a support strap, allowing localized contact maintenance while permitting overall belt expansion during respiration. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling good contact without restricting thoracic movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt incorporates dynamic elements including zigzag or meandering supply lines that can expand and contract, and air-tight elements filled with compressible material that maintain contact pressure during belt expansion. These dynamic features allow the belt to adapt to thoracic movement while maintaining electrode contact quality.
2Shape
If the belt is placed at an angle with respect to the ribs to follow rib anatomy, then anatomical alignment is improved, but a force is created that prevents free rib movement
Solution Approach 1:
The belt is divided into multiple independent electrode modules that can move relative to each other. Each module contains electrodes mounted on a support strap, allowing localized contact maintenance while permitting overall belt expansion during respiration. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling good contact without restricting thoracic movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt design changes the physical parameters of the material and structure to reduce restrictiveness. This includes using materials with specific elastic properties, creating air-tight elements with compressible fill material, and designing zigzag supply lines that can accommodate expansion. These parameter changes allow anatomical alignment without creating excessive restrictive forces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual electrodes are placed on the thoracic surface, then measurement flexibility is improved, but handling becomes cumbersome and electrodes are easily dislocated
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual electrodes are merged into integrated electrode modules where electrodes are mounted on a common support strap with integrated supply lines and contact elements. This merging maintains measurement flexibility while eliminating the handling difficulties of individual electrodes and preventing dislocation through integrated construction.
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
This design provides more representative EIT images by allowing natural thoracic movement, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving patient comfort while maintaining effective electrode contact and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
using a non-stretchable, flexible support structure with angulated legs that follow the rib anatomy, allowing for an oblique placement that mimics the natural rib movement
Implementation Method 2
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to investigate and measure regional lung ventilation and perfusion
Data Source
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AI summary
An electro impedance measuring belt for placing electrodes around the thorax of a patien.t comprises an array of a plurality of spaced apart electrodes (15), and a support structure (13), on which the electrodes are arranged. The support structure with the electrode array comprises two angulated legs (31) on which the electrodes are lined up, the two legs spread out from an apex at an angle, such that, when the belt is put around the thorax of a patient, the array of electrodes extends from the back of the patient, where the apex of fee angulated legs is to be located, essentially parallel to the ribs to the lower part of the breastbone of the patient.