Electrode with Charge-Operated Visual Indicator for Contact Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin-contact electrodes used in medical examination devices, such as ECG monitors, face challenges in determining the quality of electrical contact with the skin, particularly due to issues like hair, sweat, skin oil, and adhesive degradation, leading to delays and errors in examinations, and there is a need for a method that does not require specialized hardware or training to interpret.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrodes with first and second electrical contacts, a charge-holding structure, and an indicator that changes state visually in response to changes in the charge stored, allowing for visual determination of contact quality without additional hardware or training, and can be used with various ECG units and by colorblind individuals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional electrodes with adhesive elements are used, then the electrodes can be attached to the skin, but the adhesive has a limited shelf life and degradation is not readily identifiable
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-charged with electrical charge before application to the patient. This preliminary action enables the indicator to immediately display the contact quality upon application, without requiring subsequent testing or monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode automatically indicates its own contact quality through the visual indicator that responds to the electrical charge. The electrode serves itself by providing the indication without requiring external testing equipment or complex monitoring systems.
2Measurement precision
If impedance measurement is performed before electrode application, then the gel condition can be inferred, but the quality of connection between electrode and skin cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator provides immediate feedback about the contact quality when the electrode is applied to the skin. The indicator changes state based on the electrical charge, giving real-time information about whether proper contact has been established.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator uses color changes or other visual state changes to communicate contact quality information. This allows operators to quickly assess whether the electrode is properly connected without requiring technical expertise or additional equipment.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple identical electrodes are used to reduce cost, then measurement variation is reduced, but wires can be attached to wrong electrodes creating errors
Solution Approach 1:
While the electrodes remain identical in their sensing function, each electrode now has a local visual indicator that provides unique information about that specific electrode's contact quality. This local differentiation helps operators verify correct placement and wiring without making the electrodes themselves non-uniform.
4Device complexity
If no visual indicator is provided, then the electrode design remains simple, but loose or expired electrodes are not readily identified causing delays and errors
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator uses color changes or other visual state changes to communicate contact quality and electrode status. This allows operators to quickly identify loose or expired electrodes without adding significant complexity to the electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic indicator systems with a simpler electrical charge-based visual indicator. The indicator responds to electrical charge rather than requiring mechanical movement or complex electronics, thus adding minimal complexity while providing valuable information.
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
This solution enables visual verification of electrode contact quality at the time of application, indicating whether the electrode is properly attached and not expired, reducing errors and simplifying the process for operators, regardless of their color vision capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a charge-holding structure electrically connected between the first and second electrical contacts
Implementation Method 2
an indicator coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes state in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode includes separate first and second electrical contacts to contact the skin of a subject. A charge-holding structure is electrically connected between the first and second contacts. An indicator is operatively coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes visibly in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure. The electrode can include a rectifier across the contacts. A container for electrodes includes an electrical supply and a plurality of receptacles for electrodes so that a voltage difference is maintained across conductors of each receptacle (and contacts of an electrode therein) for at least one week. A method of making electrodes includes arranging the contacts over a support, connecting the charge-holding structure between them, arranging the indicator over the support, and charging the charge-holding structure so that the indicator has a first visual appearance.