Wearable Defibrillator Patch Structure for Stable Skin Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable AED patches face issues with adhesive peeling and reduced effectiveness due to semi-rigid conductive layers, leading to discomfort and loss of contact with the skin during body movements, especially over extended wear periods.
Innovation Solution
A wearable AED patch design incorporating a flexible outer ring, an air gap, and a semi-rigid conductive portion that allows independent movement, ensuring consistent conductive contact with the skin through a flexible portion that compensates for body movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a semi-rigid conductive layer is used in the patch, then the conductive contact with skin is maintained, but the adhesive layer peels away from the skin during body movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is divided into distinct functional zones: a flexible adhesive outer ring that moves with skin, and a semi-rigid conductive inner portion that maintains electrical contact. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function without compromising the other - the adhesive ring absorbs movement while the conductive center remains stable
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible bridge or hinge structure acts as an intermediary between the rigid conductive layer and the flexible adhesive ring. This intermediate element accommodates the differential movement between the two layers, preventing the adhesive from peeling while maintaining conductive contact through the bridge structure
2Reliability
If the conductive layer is made semi-rigid to maintain contact, then electrical conductivity is ensured, but patient comfort is reduced causing patch removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patch structure separates the rigid conductive function from the flexible comfort function. The inner conductive portion remains semi-rigid to ensure reliable electrical contact for defibrillation, while the outer adhesive ring is highly flexible to move with skin during patient activities, thereby maintaining comfort during long-term wear
Solution Approach 2:
The outer adhesive ring is designed as a flexible film or shell that can stretch and conform to skin movements. This flexible outer layer protects the semi-rigid conductive components while allowing natural skin motion, preventing discomfort that would lead to patch removal
3Duration of action of moving object
If the patch is designed for long-term wear (days or weeks), then continuous monitoring is enabled, but adhesive peeling and contact loss occur over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to changing skin conditions over time. The flexible adhesive ring continuously adjusts to skin movements and deformations, while the conductive portion maintains stable contact through its semi-rigid structure, enabling reliable long-term operation
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive outer ring is designed to initially bond to the skin and absorb movement forces before they reach the conductive layer. This preliminary action of the adhesive ring protects the conductive contact from peeling forces during the entire wear period, maintaining reliability over days or weeks
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable AED patch for wearing by a subject, including: a flexible, stretchable outer ring that is adhered to the subject; a rigid or semi-rigid conductive portion partially separated from the outer ring by an air gap; and a flexible portion that extends over the outer ring and the air gap, and into the conductive portion such that the flexible portion and air gap enable the rigid or semi-rigid conductive portion to remain in conductive contact with the skin while the flexible, stretchable outer ring as well as the flexible stretchable portion contract and stretch as needed due to body movements and related skin movements.