Dry Electrodes in Wearable Garment with Dynamic Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable medical devices for monitoring cardiac rhythm face challenges in maintaining comfortable electrode contact while minimizing noise from movement, as traditional adhesive electrodes can be uncomfortable and lead to reduced patient compliance.
Innovation Solution
A wearable garment with dry electrodes that use a compressive member to maintain contact with the skin, adjustable compression levels controlled by processing circuitry to optimize signal quality, and the use of mechanical sensors to adjust compression based on detected bioelectrical signals and movement, ensuring improved electrode contact without adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive electrodes are used to hold electrodes in place, then electrode contact stability is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates and patient compliance reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component from the electrode system entirely, using only compressive force from the garment to maintain electrode-skin contact. This extraction of the harmful adhesive element resolves the contradiction by eliminating the source of patient discomfort while preserving contact stability through the compressive garment design.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressive garment acts as an intermediary mechanism between the electrode and the skin, providing the necessary contact pressure without requiring adhesives. The garment's compression force serves as the mediating force that maintains reliable electrode contact while being comfortable for the patient.
2Ease of operation
If dry electrodes without adhesives are used, then patient comfort is improved, but electrode movement increases causing noise in sensed signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic compression adjustment where the garment's compressive force can be varied to maintain optimal electrode-skin contact. The compression level can be adjusted based on patient movement, activity level, and signal quality requirements, allowing the system to adapt between comfort and signal precision as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the compression parameter of the garment to control electrode stability. By adjusting the compression force applied to the electrodes, the system can optimize the balance between patient comfort (lower compression) and signal quality (higher compression to reduce movement and noise).
3Measurement precision
If tight compression is applied to improve electrode contact, then signal quality is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compressive garment is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the compression level to be modified based on real-time conditions. During periods requiring high signal quality, compression can be increased, while during comfortable wear periods, compression can be reduced, creating a dynamic balance between the two opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system may employ periodic adjustment of compression levels, alternating between higher compression for signal acquisition and lower compression for patient comfort. This periodic variation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision when needed while maintaining overall patient compliance through comfortable wear periods.
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 enhances patient comfort and compliance by maintaining effective electrode contact, reducing noise in bioelectrical signals, and allowing for precise monitoring and potential defibrillation therapy delivery, while avoiding the discomfort of adhesives.
Implementation Method 1
each of the electrodes configured to be placed in contact with skin of a patient and held in position with a compressive member
Implementation Method 2
the third electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to sense electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable garment and an arrangement of electrodes configured to measure bioelectrical signals from a patient. The dry electrodes are free from adhesives to hold the electrodes in place on the patient's skin. The arrangement of the electrodes may be configured to limit noise and facilitate accurate signal sensing from the patient even with some amount of relative movement between the electrodes and the patient's skin. The wearable garment may be controllable to change the amount of compression based on the sensed signals from the electrodes, and from other sensors. The garment may maintain a comfortable level of compression until processing circuitry detects a signal of interest, such as a cardiac arrhythmia, irregular respiration, or some other signal. The processing circuitry may cause the wearable garment to increase compression to improve the contact between the electrodes and the patient's skin and improve reception of the measured signals.