ECG Cable Organizer with Rotating Spools
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tangling and disorganization of wires in portable heart rate monitors and ECG machines complicate their use, especially in emergency situations where quick and accurate readings are critical, due to the inconvenience of untangling wires, which can lead to loss of ECG readings.
Innovation Solution
A cable organizer system with an outer housing and axially mounted spools that allow independent rotation, featuring a resilient bias to wind and unwind ECG cables, ensuring organized storage and easy access, and a ratchet mechanism to manage cable tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If wires are made long to reach patient body surfaces, then coverage and accessibility are improved, but wires become tangled and disorganized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements spools that allow wires to be wound and stored in a compact nested configuration. Each spool holds a specific wire, and when not in use, the wires are wound around the spools and stored within the housing, creating a nested organization system that prevents tangling while maintaining full wire length for patient coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The spools are designed to rotate freely, allowing dynamic adjustment of wire length and positioning. This rotational capability enables the wires to be dynamically deployed or retracted as needed, transitioning from a static tangled state to an organized state without losing operational flexibility.
2Volume of moving object
If wires are stored in a compact manner, then portability is improved, but quick access and deployment are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The spool mechanism pre-positions the wires in an organized, wound state ready for rapid deployment. The resilient bias keeps the spools rotated to a ready position, so when needed, the wires can be quickly accessed and deployed without requiring time-consuming untangling or reorganization.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient bias mechanism provides dynamic automatic rotation of spools, enabling quick deployment of wires when force is applied. The spools automatically rotate in the direction of applied force, allowing rapid wire access while maintaining compact storage when not in use.
3Ease of operation
If rigid fastening clips are used to secure wires, then wire organization is improved, but adaptability and ease of adjustment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spool mechanism replaces rigid fastening clips with a dynamic rotational system. The spools can rotate freely to accommodate different wire lengths and positions, providing adaptability while maintaining organization. The resilient bias ensures the spools return to a neutral position, automatically organizing wires without rigid constraints.
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 cable organizer effectively keeps ECG cables organized, reducing tangling and facilitating quick deployment, thereby enhancing the usability and reliability of heart rate monitors and ECG machines, especially in urgent care situations by maintaining consistent contact with the patient's body.
Implementation Method 1
The first spool is resiliently biased toward a wound condition in which the body portion of the first ECG cable is wound about the first spool
Implementation Method 2
The first spool is configured to rotate from the wound condition to unwind the body portion of the first ECG cable when a pulling force is applied to the first or second end of the ECG cable
Data Source
AI summary
A cable organizer includes an outer housing, an axle extending longitudinally through the outer housing, and a plurality of spools supported on the axle such that the plurality of spools is configured to independently rotate relative to one another about a longitudinal axis defined by the axle. The spools are configured to let out a respective ECG cable when an end of the ECG cable is pulled.