Elastic Wearable Sensor with Flexible Skin-Conforming Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable sensors face challenges in maintaining attachment to human skin due to significant skin movement, leading to discomfort and adhesion issues, especially when used for extended periods, as they fail to accommodate skin deformations and provide adequate breathability and conformality.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, and a connecting member with adhesive portions, allowing the connecting member to transition between configurations to accommodate skin deformations, ensuring durable adhesion and breathability by using a flexible composite board with adhesive portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If strong adhesives are used to attach the sensor device to the patient's skin, then adhesion strength is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to lack of breathability and skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible substrate that can conform to skin contours and deform with skin movement, eliminating the need for strong adhesives. The flexible nature of the substrate allows it to maintain attachment through mechanical conformality rather than chemical adhesion, thereby providing breathability and avoiding skin irritation while ensuring stable sensor contact.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sensor device is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to skin deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes materials and structures with variable mechanical properties that can change their stiffness or flexibility in response to skin deformation. The flexible substrate and connecting members are designed to have appropriate elastic moduli that allow them to deform with skin while maintaining electrical connectivity and structural integrity, achieving both manufacturing precision and adaptability.
3Reliability
If the connecting member is made rigid to maintain electrical connectivity, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to discomfort during skin movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic connecting members that can flex and deform with skin movement while maintaining electrical connectivity. The connecting members are designed with flexible structures that allow relative movement between sensor components and the skin surface, ensuring continuous electrical contact during patient movement without causing discomfort or dislodgment.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If adhesive coverage area is increased to improve attachment durability, then adhesion strength is improved, but breathability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces extensive adhesive coverage with a flexible substrate that maintains attachment through mechanical conformality and minimal adhesive usage. The flexible nature of the substrate allows it to conform to skin contours and move with skin deformation, providing durable attachment with minimal adhesive application, thereby preserving skin breathability and reducing irritation.
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 system effectively maintains attachment to the skin despite movement, reducing stress at the skin-adhesive interface, improving adhesion durability, and enhancing user comfort by accommodating skin deformations and providing breathability.
Implementation Method 1
Human skin, however, is highly elastic. For example, a typical range for the elastic constant of human skin is 0.1 to 2 MPa and may depend on factors including body location and age. Furthermore, natural movement of the patient may result in significant compressive and tensile skin strain
Implementation Method 2
Maintaining attachment between electrodes and human skin can present challenges, especially if the skin moves significantly due to patient movement and if the electrodes are intended to remain attached over an extended period of time
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a system includes a first assembly, a second assembly, and a connecting member. The first assembly includes a first electrode and a first adhesive portion. The first assembly is configured to be coupled to a surface of a patient via the first adhesive portion. The second assembly includes a second electrode and a second adhesive portion. The second assembly is configured to be coupled to the surface of the patient via the second adhesive portion. The connecting member has a first end coupled to the first assembly and a second end coupled to the second assembly. The connecting member is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration and may be configured to be coupled to the surface of the patient via a third adhesive portion in both the first configuration and the second configuration.