Sliding ECG Lead Clamp for Cable Separation and Fast Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The entanglement and scrambling of wires and cables in electrocardiogram (ECG) systems and similar equipment delay deployment and lead to incorrect results due to improper placement of electrodes, which is critical for accurate heart activity measurement.
Innovation Solution
A clamp device that clamps onto multiple cables, allowing them to slide freely along their length, engaging the distal ends to prevent entanglement and sliding away under gravity when lifted for use, maintaining separation and organization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If leads are made longer to allow convenient placement of electrodes on patient's body, then ease of operation is improved, but cable entanglement and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp serves as an intermediary device between the ECG machine and the leads. It attaches to the leads and provides a structured way to manage and organize them, preventing entanglement while allowing the leads to remain long enough for convenient patient electrode placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp divides the lead management function into separate segments - the clamp body that attaches to the leads, the channels that hold individual leads separated, and the grip areas that allow user interaction. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally.
2Measurement precision
If multiple leads are used to provide comprehensive heart electrical activity view, then measurement precision is improved, but cable organization and deployment time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp merges multiple lead management functions into a single device. It can accommodate multiple leads simultaneously in its channels, keeping them organized and separated while ready for deployment, thus reducing the time required to set up multiple leads on a patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp allows leads to be pre-organized and separated before deployment. By attaching the clamp to the leads and ensuring they are properly positioned in the channels beforehand, the actual deployment process becomes faster and more efficient, as the leads are already organized and ready for patient application.
3Stability of the object's composition
If leads are kept together to prevent entanglement, then cable organization is improved, but interference with lead operations during use may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed to be dynamic rather than static. It can slide freely along the length of the leads, allowing it to adapt to different positions and configurations. This dynamic capability enables the clamp to maintain lead organization when needed while allowing easy manipulation and movement during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp provides localized organization through its channels, which hold individual leads separated and organized in specific locations. However, the overall clamp structure remains flexible and can be positioned anywhere along the leads, providing local stability without restricting overall operational freedom.
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
Prevents cable entanglement, ensuring proper placement and reducing errors in signal interpretation by keeping cables organized and untangled during idle and active use.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp slides away under the force of gravity to the lowest point along the cable
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed device is a clamp intended to organize wire/leads of an ECG device, or any machinery having a plurality of loosely hanging wires or connectors, each of which is intended to fulfill and individualized purpose. The disclosed clamp device is intended to clamp onto all cables at the same time and have the ability to freely slide along the length of the cables as required. Thus, if the machine is idle, with leads handing downward, the clamp device will preferably be located near the distal ends of the leads, which is the best location to ensure that the cables do not get entangled. Once the leads are required for a procedure and are then raised to be placed on a patient's body, the clamp slides away under the force of gravity to the lowest point along the cable.