Dry Stimulation Electrode Using Ionic Liquid Adhesive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrodes for electrical stimulation, such as TENS and wound care, face issues with prolonged use due to gel drying out, skin irritation, and loss of signal quality, limiting their duration and storage life, and requiring larger areas for deeper muscle stimulation to avoid high current densities.
Innovation Solution
A dry stimulation electrode using an ionically conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive with a (meth)acrylate resin and ionic liquid, providing low impedance and good current distribution without water, allowing for longer use without skin irritation and maintaining signal quality, and combining with less conductive layers like carbon for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If gel electrodes are used for prolonged stimulation, then initial signal quality and adhesion are good, but the gel dries out over time causing loss of signal quality and adhesion failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the conductive medium from water-based gel to ionic liquid-based adhesive. This parameter change eliminates evaporation (the root cause of drying out) while maintaining ionic conductivity for signal transmission. The ionic liquid adhesive provides stable electrical properties over extended periods without the degradation issues of water-based gels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system combining ionic liquid with pressure-sensitive adhesive polymers. This composite provides both the adhesive functionality needed for skin attachment and the ionic conductivity required for electrical stimulation, while eliminating the water content that causes drying out in traditional gel electrodes.
2Power
If larger electrode areas are used for deeper muscle stimulation, then higher currents can be delivered, but current distribution becomes more critical due to increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical resistance parameter of the conductive layer by using ionic liquid adhesive with optimized conductivity. This allows larger electrode areas to maintain low overall resistance while the improved current distribution characteristics of the ionic liquid adhesive ensure uniform current delivery across the expanded surface area.
3Productivity
If gel electrodes are reused to save material and costs, then material efficiency improves, but the gel gets dirty and dries out making it unacceptable for hospital environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a disposable electrode design using ionic liquid adhesive. While individually disposable, this approach eliminates the contamination and skin irritation problems associated with reusing gel electrodes. The ionic liquid adhesive maintains its properties throughout the electrode's service life and does not degrade or become contaminated like water-based gels, making disposable use acceptable from both performance and cost perspectives.
4Reliability
If additional gel is distributed over the electrode area to prevent drying, then functionality is improved, but the electrode becomes more complex and the gel still dries out over longer use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the composition parameter from water-based gel to ionic liquid-based adhesive. This eliminates the drying out problem at its source, making additional gel distribution unnecessary. The ionic liquid adhesive provides inherent long-term stability without requiring extra material or complex structures to prevent drying.
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
Enables comfortable, long-term electrical stimulation with stable impedance and adhesion, reducing skin irritation and Ohmic losses, while allowing for cost-effective production and extended storage and usage without gel-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
an ionically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a) a (meth)acrylate resin comprising at least 10% of a (meth)acrylate monomer comprising OH-group by weight of the total weight of the (meth)acrylate resin; and b) an ionic liquid
Implementation Method 2
an ionically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive composition
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a stimulation electrode comprising an ionically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a) a (meth)acrylate resin comprising at least 10% of a (meth)acrylate monomer comprising OH-group by weight of the total weight of the (meth)acrylate resin; and b) an ionic liquid. The stimulation electrode according to the present invention is used in skin applications transferring an electrical signal to the body via skin.