Biomedical Electrode with Composite Gel for Extended Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biomedical electrodes cause skin irritation and have a short lifespan, leading to frequent replacements and discomfort for patients, especially during extended monitoring or treatment periods.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction biomedical electrode system with an adhesive film layer and a conductive gel layer that minimizes skin irritation and maintains low impedance, allowing for extended wear without significant discomfort, using materials that comply with safety standards for cardiac defibrillators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional biomedical electrodes are used, then they can provide basic monitoring and treatment functions, but they cause significant skin irritation and have short lifespan requiring frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode uses a composite structure combining a flexible substrate with a conductive gel layer containing specific polymers (polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol) and conductive particles. This composite material formulation provides both extended wear duration and reduced skin irritation by combining biocompatible materials with appropriate electrical conductivity properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the conductive gel, specifically using a ratio of polyethylene glycol to polypropylene glycol and controlling the concentration of conductive particles. These parameter changes optimize the balance between electrical conductivity, skin compatibility, and wear duration, allowing the electrode to function effectively for extended periods without causing significant irritation.
2Reliability
If conventional electrodes are used for extended periods, then monitoring coverage is increased, but impedance increases and skin irritation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive gel's chemical composition is optimized with specific polymers and conductive particles to maintain stable electrical parameters over time. This parameter optimization ensures that impedance remains low and stable during extended wear, preserving monitoring accuracy while the biocompatible materials minimize skin irritation even after prolonged contact.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional electrodes are replaced frequently, then skin irritation is reduced, but treatment continuity and monitoring accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode employs a composite material system where the conductive gel is integrated with a flexible substrate. This composite structure maintains electrical stability and low impedance over extended wear periods, enabling the electrode to remain in place for up to two weeks without significant skin irritation while continuously providing accurate monitoring and treatment functions.
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 electrode system reduces skin irritation and discomfort, enabling extended wear for up to two weeks while maintaining effective monitoring and treatment capabilities, thereby reducing replacement frequency and improving patient comfort and monitoring accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive gel layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the conductive element. The combined impedance of the conductive element and the conductive gel layer is less than about 3 Ohms at maximum energy
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive film layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
Electrodes, multi-electrode patches, and electrodes for biomedical systems are provided. The electrode includes an adhesive film layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A conductive element is substantially surrounded by the adhesive film layer. A conductive gel layer covers at least portion of a surface of the conductive element. The conducting gel comprises a material that does not result in significant skin irritation on a human subject after a period of at least about one week.