Clamp Electrode Apparatus for Consistent Body Composition Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing body composition measurement technologies face challenges in achieving accurate and repeatable measurements, particularly for hospitalized patients or those requiring frequent measurements, due to inconvenience in attaching and detaching electrode pads and issues with maintaining consistent contact, especially when surface conditions are wet or markings are erased.

Innovation Solution

A clamp electrode apparatus with hingedly connected upper and lower clamp bodies that form an integrated device, featuring a channel for aligning a visible mark feature to ensure consistent electrode contact locations across multiple measurements, and a measurement system with switching circuits to alternate electrode connections for precise impedance measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electrode pads are attached and detached for each measurement, then measurements can be performed on hospitalized patients, but measurement consistency and repeatability deteriorate due to inconvenience and marking erosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attaching and detaching electrodesVSAvoidmeasurement consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp electrode apparatus automatically maintains contact with the limb through its clamping mechanism, eliminating the need for manual reattachment and ensuring consistent electrode positioning across multiple measurements without requiring patient cooperation or marking preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp body serves as an intermediary structure that holds the electrodes in a fixed spatial relationship to the limb, using the channel alignment feature as a mediator to ensure repeated measurements occur at the same anatomical location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If electrode pads are kept on the limb throughout multiple measurements, then measurement consistency improves, but patient comfort and hygiene deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidskin irritation and hygiene issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp electrode apparatus is applied periodically for each measurement session and then removed, allowing the skin to rest between measurements while still achieving consistent measurements through the channel alignment feature that ensures the same anatomical location is targeted each time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual alignment of electrodes is performed, then measurement setup is flexible, but measurement repeatability deteriorates due to human error and marking erosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment flexibilityVSAvoidmeasurement repeatability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical alignment process is replaced with a structured guidance system using the channel feature that provides visual or tactile cues for correct positioning, eliminating reliance on erased markings or human memory while maintaining alignment flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables accurate and repeatable body composition measurements by maintaining consistent electrode contact locations and switching connections to assess impedance effectively, facilitating the detection of changes in body composition and conditions like edema.

Implementation Method 1

Bioelectrical impedance analysis is one of many ways to estimate body composition. The above applications of body composition information generally require accurate analysis of body composition, which depends on accurate measurement of electrical impedance of body portions.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS11744517B2Body composition measurement using clamp electrodes

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 INBODY CO LTD

AI summary

A clamp electrode apparatus comprises first and second clamps which are mechanically connected to form a single integrated device and arranged side by side such that a first edge of the first clamp faces a second edge of the second clamp. A channel is defined between the first and second edges for aligning a visible mark feature of a limb, such as a malleolus or ulnar head, within the opening or channel when the first and second clamps clamp the limb. When the limb is clamped with the clamp electrode apparatus multiple times, the visible mark feature can be aligned with reference to the channel. Thus, electrodes attached to the clamps contact generally the same locations even if the clamp electrode apparatus is removed after each measurement and is not kept on the limb throughout the multiple measurements.