Heart Rate Monitor Electrode with Compressible Absorbent Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heart rate measurement devices for animals with hair coatings face challenges in achieving a reliable signal-to-noise ratio due to suboptimal electrical signal conduction through the skin, which is affected by the quality of the electrode-skin interface.
Innovation Solution
A heart rate monitor electrode featuring electrically conductive spikes connected by a flexible absorbent plate that can change shape, allowing liquid retention and release, ensuring direct contact with the skin through hair, and an elastic mechanism for improved signal conduction, along with a reusable design that enhances signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sponge soaked in gel is used to conduct electrical signals between the animal and the electrode, then electrical conduction is improved, but the electrode becomes single-use and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the absorbent material from a permanently saturated gel sponge to a compressible material that can reversibly absorb and release liquid. By controlling the compression parameter, the electrode can be reused multiple times while maintaining good electrical contact through liquid release onto the skin surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic compressibility to the electrode structure, allowing the absorbent material to change its state between expanded (liquid-retaining) and compressed (liquid-releasing) forms. This dynamic behavior enables the electrode to adapt to different usage conditions and be reused without losing its conduction capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrode maintains constant contact with the skin, then measurement stability is improved, but direct contact through fur is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-saturating the absorbent material with liquid before use. When compression is applied, the liquid is immediately released to facilitate direct contact between the conductive tips and the skin, ensuring rapid and reliable signal acquisition without requiring the animal to sweat first.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the absorbent material as an intermediary that stores and controls the release of liquid to bridge the gap between the electrode and the skin. This intermediary mechanism ensures consistent liquid availability at the contact interface, improving both ease of operation and measurement stability.
3Measurement precision
If the absorbent material is compressed to release liquid for better contact, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the electrode structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible compressible structure for the absorbent material plate that can be elastically deformed between expanded and compressed states. This flexible design allows liquid release mechanism to be integrated into a relatively simple overall structure, minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving improved signal-to-noise ratio.
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 solution significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio of electrical signals collected, allowing for more accurate heart rate measurements, even on non-sweating animals and without the need for frequent electrode replacement, by ensuring consistent and direct contact between the skin and conductive spikes.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible absorbent material plate having a contact surface and capable of changing shape elastically between a form at least partially expanded in which the absorbent material plate is able to retain a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a form at least partially compressed, in which the absorbent material plate occupies a smaller volume than in expanded form and in which at least a part of a liquid contained in the absorbent material plate when it is in at least partially expanded form, is released
Implementation Method 3
capable of changing shape elastically between a form at least partially expanded and a form at least partially compressed
Implementation Method 4
electrically conductive tips each extending from a free end to an electrically conductive circuit electrically connecting the tips to each other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heart rate monitor electrode (1). The electrode comprises a mounting (2), conductive points (23) and a plate of absorbent material (4). The free end (24) of at least some of the conductive points (23) is flush with the contact surface of the plate of absorbent material (4) or stands proud from same when the plate of absorbent material (4) is in an at least partially compressed form and releases at least a portion of the liquid it contains. According to other aspects, the invention relates to a device comprising at least one such electrode (1) and a method for measuring heart rate by means of same.