Disposable Enclosure for Capacitive Sensor Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive sensing electrodes for electrophysiological signals lack hygienic compliance, as they are not easily disposable and can become contaminated during repeated use, posing hygiene concerns in electrophysiological sensing applications.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive sensing apparatus comprising a separable enclosure and capacitive sensor, where the enclosure is designed as a disposable device to contact the patient, ensuring each use is hygienic, while the capacitive sensor is reusable, with features like flexible clamping mechanisms, biocompatible materials, and high permittivity contact sides for improved signal transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a reusable capacitive sensor is used for multiple sensing procedures, then cost efficiency is improved, but hygiene conditions deteriorate due to contamination from previous procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a reusable capacitive sensor and a disposable enclosure. The enclosure is segmented as a separate hygienic barrier that can be discarded after single use, while the sensor remains reusable. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by isolating the contamination risk to the disposable enclosure while preserving the reusable sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure acts as an intermediary component between the reusable sensor and the patient's skin. It provides the necessary capacitive coupling for signal sensing while serving as a disposable hygienic barrier. The enclosure mediates the interaction, allowing the sensor to remain reusable without direct contact with the patient, thus resolving the hygiene contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a disposable enclosure is introduced to ensure hygiene, then hygiene conditions are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is constructed as a thin, flexible structure comprising a contact side and surrounding elements that can elastically deform. This flexible shell design provides the necessary functionality for capacitive sensing and mechanical retention without adding significant complexity. The thin-film nature allows simple integration with the sensor while maintaining hygiene benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The surrounding elements of the enclosure are designed to be flexible and elastically deformable, allowing dynamic adaptation to the sensor shape and secure retention through elastic forces. This dynamic design enables simple snap-fit or elastic retention mechanisms without complex fastening systems, resolving the contradiction between hygiene and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If flexible surrounding elements are used to form a clamping mechanism, then ease of sensor retention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surrounding elements utilize elastic deformation as the primary retention mechanism rather than precise mechanical interlocking. By changing the material parameter (elasticity) and utilizing force-based retention, the system achieves easy sensor retention without requiring high dimensional precision. The elastic properties compensate for manufacturing tolerances, resolving the contradiction between ease of retention and manufacturing precision.
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
This design allows for improved hygiene during electrophysiological signal sensing by using a disposable enclosure with each procedure, reducing contamination risks and extending the lifespan of the capacitive sensor, while maintaining effective signal capture through biocompatible and high-permittivity contact materials.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor for capacitively sensing an electrophysiological signal of a person
Implementation Method 2
capacitively sensing an electrophysiological signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a capacitive sensing apparatus for sensing an object, wherein the capacitive sensing apparatus comprises a capacitive sensor (2) for capacitively sensing the object (3) and an enclosure (4) for enclosing the capacitive sensor (2). The enclosure (4) comprises a contact side (6) for contacting the object (3) during sensing, wherein the enclosure (4) and the capacitive sensor (2) are adapted for sensing the object (3) by the capacitive sensor (2) through the contact side (6) of the enclosure (4). The enclosure (4) and the capacitive sensor (2) are separable from each other for using the capacitive sensor (2) as a reusable device and for using the enclosure (4) as a disposable device. This allows capacitively sensing an object with a new, uncontaminated enclosure (4) and a reused capacitive sensor (2) and, thus, under improved hygienic conditions.