Conductive Rubber Bioelectrode for Stable Skin Contact Impedance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bioelectrodes suffer from insufficient adhesion to the skin, leading to increased contact impedance and discomfort due to the need for gels or creams, and structural complexity, with metal probes causing pain and water-absorbent electrodes degrading in performance due to drying or wetness.
Innovation Solution
A bioelectrode composed of an electrically conductive support member and electrode member, where the electrode member is molded from conductive rubber containing silicone rubber and surface-treated metal particles with crosslinkable functional groups, allowing for a pointed shape and improved adhesion without the need for gels or creams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate-like thin sheet made of highly electrically conductive metal is used, then electrical conductivity is improved, but adhesion with skin is insufficient and contact impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of silicone rubber as the base polymer and metal particles (silver, aluminum, or copper) dispersed within it. This composite provides both the electrical conductivity of metal particles and the flexibility, softness, and skin adhesion of silicone rubber, resolving the contradiction between conductivity and adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the electrode material from rigid metal sheets to a flexible rubber composite. By adjusting the composition ratio of silicone rubber to metal particles (within specific ranges), the patent optimizes both electrical conductivity and mechanical properties such as softness and adhesion to skin.
2Ease of operation
If gel or cream is applied between skin and electrode to improve adhesion, then contact impedance is reduced, but the applied substance must be removed and additional effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone rubber electrode member inherently provides skin adhesion through its material properties (softness, flexibility, and surface characteristics) without requiring external gels or creams. The electrode serves its own adhesion function, eliminating the need for separate adhesive substances and their associated application and removal steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gel or cream component from the electrode system entirely. By incorporating adhesion functionality directly into the electrode material itself, the patent removes the separate adhesive substance and its associated operational complexity.
3Strength
If metal probes are made rigid to maintain structure, then mechanical strength is improved, but they may cause pain to the subject when adhering to the scalp
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical properties of the electrode from rigid to flexible by using silicone rubber as the base material. This allows the electrode to be soft enough to avoid causing pain to the subject while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength through the metal particle reinforcement and proper structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines the softness and flexibility of silicone rubber with the strength of metal particles. This allows the electrode to be gentle on the subject's skin while maintaining structural integrity and mechanical strength through the dispersed metal particle network.
4Ease of operation
If water-absorbent member is used to hold electrolyte solution, then adhesion is improved, but performance degrades due to drying and wetness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water-absorbent member with a silicone rubber-based composite material. This new material provides adhesion through its inherent material properties rather than through water absorption, eliminating the performance degradation issues associated with drying and wetness while maintaining stable contact with the skin.
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 bioelectrode maintains stable contact with the skin, prevents impedance increase with repeated use, and avoids discomfort, ensuring effective biosignal detection without structural complexity or performance degradation.
Implementation Method 1
metal particles containing a crosslinkable functional group on a surface thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A bioelectrode and a method for producing the bioelectrode are provided. The bioelectrode has a non-complicated structure, satisfactory elasticity, and is capable of preventing an increase of contact impedance due to an increase of the number of times of usage. The bioelectrode includes a support member, which is an electrically conductive member, and at least one electrode member, which is a member projecting from the support member. At least the electrode member is molded from an electrically conductive rubber containing a silicone rubber and treated metal particles containing a crosslinkable functional group on a surface thereof.