Electrophysiological Analysis System with Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophysiological analysis systems cannot study the separation of sweat gland voltage-current curves for identical potential differences, limiting their ability to provide health information due to varying potential differences between electrodes and the body.
Innovation Solution
An electrophysiological analysis system with a control device that adjusts the potential difference between the anode and the body, using an amplifier circuit with a feedback loop to maintain a constant potential difference, allowing for the measurement of skin conductance and detection of leakage currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a direct voltage source is used to generate voltage slots for electrophysiological analysis, then the system can measure skin conductance and sweat gland behavior, but the potential difference between the electrode and the body varies and cannot be controlled, preventing standardized comparison across different subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback control mechanism where the potential difference between the electrode and the body is continuously monitored and used to adjust the voltage applied by the direct voltage source. This feedback loop ensures that the potential difference remains constant across different subjects and measurement conditions, enabling standardized and comparable electrophysiological analysis while maintaining precise measurement of skin conductance and sweat gland behavior
2Power
If the voltage applied to the electrodes is increased to generate sufficient electrophysiological current, then the signal strength improves, but the potential difference becomes uncontrolled and varies between subjects, compromising measurement consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control mechanism monitors the actual potential difference achieved during measurement and dynamically adjusts the voltage output to maintain a predetermined constant potential difference. This ensures that sufficient electrophysiological current is generated for reliable signal detection while maintaining consistent measurement conditions across all subjects, thereby preserving both power and reliability
3Measurement precision
If the system uses high impedance electrodes to measure body potential, then the measurement of potential difference is improved, but the system still cannot impose or control a specific potential difference value
Solution Approach 1:
The high impedance electrodes continue to provide accurate potential difference measurements, and this measured value is fed back to the voltage source control system. The feedback mechanism uses this information to adjust the applied voltage and maintain a predetermined constant potential difference, thereby combining the measurement precision of high impedance electrodes with the adaptability to control and standardize the potential difference across different measurement scenarios
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
Enables the study of sweat gland behavior for all subjects at a constant potential difference, enhancing the reliability of health assessments by maintaining consistent voltage-current curve analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a control device, adapted to selectively apply to a pair of so-called active electrodes direct voltage slots generated by the voltage source, said active electrodes constituting an anode and a cathode, and to connect at least one other electrode, called passive, in high impedance, said electrode serving to measure the potential reached by the body
Implementation Method 2
the study of certain characteristics of which can indicate the existence of pathologies or pathological predispositions. In particular, and with reference to the figure 1, the current generated in the skin by the application of a voltage makes it possible to study the electrical behavior of the subject's sweat glands, by measuring the conductance of these glands
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrophysiological analysis system comprising: a series of electrodes intended to be placed in different regions of the human body; a direct current voltage source; a control device adapted (i) to selectively apply direct current pulses, generated by the voltage source, to a pair of so-called active electrodes, said active electrodes forming an anode and a cathode, and (ii) to connect at least one other so-called passive electrode with high-impedance, said electrode measuring the potential reached by the body; and a measurement device arranged to obtain data representative of the current at the cathode and the potentials on at least some of the electrodes connected with high impedance, in response to the application of the pulses, which data can be used to determine a value for the electrochemical conductance of the skin. The system is characterised in that it also comprises a device for controlling the difference between the potential at the anode and the potential reached by the body, according to the voltage delivered by the direct current voltage source. The invention also relates to an electrophysiological analysis method carried out by the system.