Baseband Receiver Leakage Current Limitation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During medical procedures, especially those involving the heart, leakage currents from equipment can pose catastrophic risks due to inadequate insulation, leading to unintended electrical shocks.
Innovation Solution
A baseband receiver system that electrically insulates input and output ports, using a modulated local oscillator signal and isolating transformers to separate and demodulate signals, thereby reducing leakage currents by ensuring high insulation between reference rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If equipment is connected directly to patient for monitoring and treatment, then signal quality and treatment effectiveness are improved, but leakage current risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary isolation amplifier between the patient-connected input stage and the output stage. This isolation amplifier acts as a mediator that breaks the direct electrical connection while transferring the ECG signal, thereby eliminating leakage current paths while preserving signal quality for monitoring and treatment functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical connection (mechanical/electrical system) with optical or wireless signal transmission methods. The ECG signal is converted to optical signals or wireless transmissions that can pass through barriers like patient skin or tissue without requiring direct electrical contact, thereby eliminating leakage current risk while maintaining signal integrity for monitoring and treatment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical isolation is implemented between input and output ports, then leakage current is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation amplifier serves as a compact intermediary component that provides electrical isolation between input and output ports. By integrating the isolation function into a single amplifier module rather than requiring separate isolation circuits and multiple stages, the patent reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective leakage current protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation amplifier performs multiple functions within a single component: it provides electrical isolation to block leakage current, amplifies the ECG signal to maintain adequate signal levels, and conditions the output signal for subsequent processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving the isolation goal.
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
The system effectively minimizes leakage currents, ensuring patient safety by maintaining electrical isolation and adhering to specified leakage ratings, thus reducing the risk of catastrophic incidents during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The modulated LO signal is transferred to an isolating device, typically a transformer, so that the modulated LO signal is input to the primary coil of the transformer. The secondary coil of the transformer, galvanically insulated from the primary coil, generates a modulated output LO signal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A baseband receiver, consisting of a receiver input port, configured to receive a baseband signal generated in response to electrical activity in tissue of a human patient. The receiver includes a modulator, configured to modulate a local oscillator signal with the baseband signal, and an isolating device configured to receive the modulated local oscillator signal at an input port of the device and in response to generate a modulated output local oscillator signal at an output port of the device. The receiver further includes a demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated output local oscillator signal with the local oscillator signal so as to recover the baseband signal.