Dry Electrode with Conductive Silicone and Detergent for Stable Bio-Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dry electrodes face challenges with high impedance and instability due to the skin's stratum corneum barrier, leading to poor signal quality and difficulty in maintaining long-term contact, especially for applications like ECG and EEG monitoring, where low galvanic impedance is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A dry electrode with a conductive silicone material filled with conductive particles and detergent additives that facilitate moisture uptake and ion flow, providing a stable and comfortable skin interface for improved signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wet electrodes with hydrogel are used, then low impedance and good signal quality are achieved, but the electrode dries out over time and causes skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode material by incorporating hydrophilic polymers and conductive particles into a flexible substrate, creating a material that maintains moisture and ionic conductivity without traditional hydrogel. This allows the electrode to maintain low impedance over extended periods without drying out or causing irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of a flexible substrate combined with hydrophilic polymer and conductive particles. This composite structure provides both the moisture retention properties needed for low impedance and the mechanical flexibility for comfortable long-term wear, resolving the contradiction between signal quality and durability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If dry electrodes are used, then long-term use without drying out is achieved, but high impedance and poor signal quality result due to skin's stratum corneum barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of hydrophilic polymer and conductive particles between the dry electrode substrate and the skin. This intermediary layer attracts and retains moisture from the skin, creating a conductive path through the stratum corneum barrier, thereby achieving low impedance while maintaining the dry electrode's long-term durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous or networked polymer structures that can absorb and retain moisture. These porous materials provide a large surface area for ionic conduction while maintaining structural integrity, enabling the dry electrode to achieve low impedance comparable to wet electrodes without compromising durability.
3Ease of operation
If dry electrode interface is used, then ease of operation and comfort are improved, but unstable electrical contact occurs due to varying sweat production and skin movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic electrode interface where the hydrophilic polymer and conductive particles can adapt to varying moisture conditions and skin movements. The material dynamically adjusts its moisture retention and ionic conductivity in response to changes in sweat production and skin deformation, maintaining stable electrical contact while preserving comfort and ease of operation.
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 electrode achieves low impedance and stable signal quality comparable to wet electrodes, maintaining performance over time without drying out, and is easy to use, making it suitable for long-term medical and consumer health applications.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive silicone material configured to enable uptake or diffusion of moisture from the skin of the subject over which the electrode body is disposed
Implementation Method 2
a detergent configured to facilitate a flow of ions through the conductive silicone material
Implementation Method 3
the conductive silicone material includes a silicone material filled with conductive particles
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrode configured to provide electrical contact with skin of a subject is provided. The electrode includes an electrode body configured to be removably coupled with the skin of the subject and to receive electrical signals from and/or transmit electrical signals to the skin of the subject, and an electrical coupling that facilitates coupling the electrode to an external computing system. The electrode body includes a conductive silicone material configured to enable uptake or diffusion of moisture from the skin of the subject over which the electrode body is disposed; and a detergent configured to facilitate a flow of ions through the conductive silicone material.