Dry Electrode Contour Overlap for Signal Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional dry electrodes are either too expensive or cause skin irritation, and existing solutions with conductive layers to enhance signal quality increase material costs and complexity, while gel electrodes dry out over time, making them unsuitable for long-term applications.

Innovation Solution

A dry electrode device with a conductive connection unit and adhesive layer that has a contact surface for skin contact, where the connection unit's contour overlaps the adhesive layer's contour by at least 80% in a top view, eliminating the need for additional conductive layers and adhesives, using an acrylate copolymer adhesive with conductive particles for biocompatibility and sufficient signal quality without ionic liquids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional electrically conductive layers and adhesive layers are used to expand the contact surface, then signal quality and design freedom are improved, but material costs and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the additional electrically conductive layers and adhesive layers that protrude beyond the connection unit. The invention achieves sufficient signal quality by using only the minimal necessary conductive adhesive material, directly applied between the connection unit and skin contact surface, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and material costs while maintaining functional performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If traditional gel electrodes are used, then adhesion to skin is maintained, but they dry out over time making them unsuitable for long-term applications

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidlong-term suitability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the adhesive material by using a dry, polymer-based conductive adhesive instead of gel-based materials. This parameter change eliminates the drying issue inherent in gel electrodes while maintaining adhesion strength through the polymer matrix and conductive particle composition, enabling long-term wearability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conductive adhesive with ionic liquid is used to ensure electrical conductivity, then sufficient electrical conductivity is achieved, but adhesion is impaired due to the large amount of conductive particles required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite material system consisting of polymer matrix, conductive particles, and ionic liquid in optimized proportions. This composite formulation achieves sufficient electrical conductivity through the synergistic combination of components while maintaining adhesion by controlling the overall composition and ensuring the polymer matrix provides structural integrity and bonding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 provides a cost-effective, simpler design with improved biocompatibility and long-term adhesion, maintaining sufficient signal quality for many applications while reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity, and avoiding skin irritation.

Implementation Method 1

an electrically conductive adhesive layer which has a contact surface for contacting a skin and which, in a state of use, is intended to provide an electrical energy transmission between the connection unit and the skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

an adhesive layer unit, in particular an electrically conductive one, which has a contact surface for contacting a skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4431017A1Dry electrode device
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 LOHMANN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4431017A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4431017A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4431017A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a dry electrode device with at least one electrically conductive connection unit and with an adhesive layer unit, in particular an electrically conductive one, which has a contact surface for contacting skin and which, in an application state, provides electrical energy transfer between the connection unit and the skin. To improve the design, it is proposed that, in a top view, a contour surface of the connection unit overlaps a contour surface of the contact surface by at least 80%.