Reusable ECGi Vest with Dry Electrodes for CMR Compatibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi) technologies are not reusable and cost-effective, and are not compatible with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, limiting their ability to provide comprehensive diagnostic data for arrhythmia prediction.
Innovation Solution
A reusable, washable ECGi electrode vest with dry contact electrodes and removable electrical leads, designed to be compatible with CMR imaging, allowing for the acquisition of electrophysiological signals and structural data alignment using MR-lucent fiducial markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable wearable vest with embedded metal electrodes is used, then ECG signal acquisition is achieved, but the vest cannot be washed and is not CMR compatible due to metal heating
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into separate components: the flexible base layer with electrode positions, removable adhesive electrode patches, and external electrical leads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the base layer can be washed and reused, while electrodes can be replaced as needed
Solution Approach 2:
Metal components (electrodes and leads) are extracted from the flexible base layer, making the base layer itself free of metal and therefore CMR compatible. The electrodes are applied separately to the skin surface rather than being embedded in the vest material
Solution Approach 3:
The electrode positions and geometry are replicated across multiple reusable base layers, allowing the same electrode configuration to be used repeatedly with different patients or the same patient over time, while each base layer can be washed and sterilized
2Adaptability or versatility
If adhesive electrode strips with conductive gel are used, then ECG data can be combined with CMR, but the process is time-consuming and causes patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the reusable base layer from the disposable electrode patches, allowing the base layer to be prepared in advance and reused, while only the thin adhesive electrode patches need to be applied and removed during each use cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive properties and conductive gel are localized to small electrode patches rather than covering the entire vest, reducing the total amount of adhesive and gel needed, and making application and removal faster and more comfortable
3Measurement precision
If high concentration of electrodes is used, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the risk of short circuiting increases due to gel conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive gel is extracted from the electrode structure itself and placed only at the skin-electrode interface on the adhesive patches, eliminating gel between electrodes and preventing short circuits while maintaining good electrical contact at each electrode site
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive patch material serves as an intermediary between the electrode and skin, providing both mechanical adhesion and electrical contact without requiring large amounts of conductive gel, thus reducing the risk of electrical shorting between adjacent electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi) system including an electrode vest (100) that comprises a flexible base layer (110) configured to cover at least a patient's chest area; and a plurality of dry contact electrodes (120) attached to the flexible base layer (110) and distributed over at least a chest area of the flexible base layer (110) to acquire electrophysiological signals from the patient's skin surface. Each electrode (120) comprises a sensing portion having an exposed sensing surface on an interior skin facing side of the electrode to contact the user's skin surface when the vest is worn, and an exposed connector portion on an exterior side of the electrode for removably connecting with an electrical lead of an ECGi measurement apparatus.