Wearable ECG Electrode Stabilization via Segmented Garment Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable cardiac defibrillators face challenges in maintaining consistent contact between sensing electrodes and a patient's skin, leading to unreliable signal quality and potential arrhythmia detection errors.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive wearable ambulatory cardiac defibrillator is designed with a garment that includes an isolation zone material with attached sensing electrodes and a movement absorption region. This configuration applies a consistent normal force to the sensing electrodes, ensuring reliable skin contact and minimizing electrode shifting or lifting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the garment uses standard elastic material for the entire structure, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the sensing electrodes cannot maintain consistent contact pressure with the patient's skin during movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode contact consistencyVSAvoidgarment structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The garment is divided into distinct functional zones: a first region with first elastic properties for general torso coverage, and a second region with second elastic properties specifically positioned to support sensing electrodes. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring consistent electrode contact while maintaining overall garment simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the garment are assigned different elastic properties. The second region has enhanced elastic properties specifically tailored to maintain consistent pressure on sensing electrodes, while the first region provides general support. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying complexity only where needed for reliable electrode contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the garment applies high pressure to the electrodes, then the electrode contact reliability improves, but the patient comfort decreases and electrode lifting occurs during movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal sensing reliabilityVSAvoidpatient comfort and wearability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The garment separates the pressure application function into a specific second region with enhanced elastic properties, while the first region maintains lower pressure for comfort. This segmentation allows reliable electrode contact through localized pressure without compromising overall patient comfort and wearability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic properties (spring rate) are changed locally in the second region to provide appropriate pressure for electrode contact, while the first region maintains different elastic properties for comfort. This parameter differentiation enables the system to achieve both reliable signal sensing and patient comfort simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively maintains consistent electrode contact, improving the reliability of electrical signal sensing and arrhythmia detection, thereby enhancing the efficacy of patient monitoring and therapy delivery.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one movement absorption region has a different elasticity than the main garment portion and the isolation zone material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250065137A1Garment Features for ECG Electrode Pressure and/or Stabilization in a Wearable Medical Device

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION

AI summary

A non-invasive wearable ambulatory cardiac defibrillator configured to stabilize forces on one or more electrodes on the patient's skin is provided. The device includes a garment configured to be worn around a torso of a patient, a sensing electrode configured to sense electrical signals at the surface of the patient's skin indicative of electrical activity of the patient's heart, a therapy electrode configured to deliver defibrillation pulses to the patient, and a controller in communication with the sensing and therapy electrode. The controller is configured to receive the signals from the sensing electrode and to cause delivery of the defibrillation pulses from the therapy electrode based on the controller detecting a cardiac arrhythmia in the received electrical signals. The garment includes a main garment portion configured to engage the torso of the patient, an isolation zone material disposed within the main garment portion and to which the sensing electrode is attached, and a movement absorption region connecting the main garment portion to the isolation zone material.