Extended-Wear ECG Patch Recorder for Stable Atrial Signal Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ECG monitoring systems are cumbersome, costly, and impractical for long-term ambulatory use, often leading to electrode dislodgment and skin irritation, particularly in women, and fail to reliably capture atrial signals for arrhythmia diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A flexible extended wear electrode patch with a removable reusable monitor recorder, designed for central chest placement, providing continuous ECG monitoring with a battery-integrated electrode patch and a reusable monitor recorder that can be easily replaced, ensuring consistent signal capture and patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional ECG electrodes are used for long-term monitoring, then continuous cardiac signal recording is achieved, but electrode dislodgment and skin irritation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The ECG monitoring system is divided into separate modular components: disposable electrode patches with integrated batteries and reusable monitor recorders. This segmentation allows the electrode patches to be replaced independently when adhesive fails, maintaining reliable skin contact without replacing the entire monitoring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode patches are designed as disposable components with limited adhesive lifespan. When the adhesive fails to maintain reliable skin contact (typically after several days), the entire patch is discarded and replaced with a fresh one, ensuring continuous reliable monitoring without the complexity of reusable adhesive systems.
2Reliability
If ECG electrodes are secured firmly to skin, then signal recording reliability is improved, but skin irritation and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive electrode patches are designed for short-term use with limited adhesive strength sufficient for the monitoring period. When adhesive failure occurs, the entire patch is disposed of and replaced, avoiding the need for strong, irritating adhesives that would cause skin damage with prolonged use.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable electrode patches are discarded after a predetermined period or when adhesive failure occurs, rather than attempting to reuse or reattach them. This ensures skin health is maintained while signal recording reliability is preserved during the active monitoring period.
3Ease of repair
If battery is integrated into electrode patch, then ease of battery replacement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is integrated into the disposable electrode patch assembly, combining power supply with the adhesive and electrode components. This merging simplifies the overall system by eliminating separate battery compartments and wiring, making the patch a self-contained unit that is replaced as a whole when adhesive fails or battery is depleted.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is designed with limited capacity sufficient for the intended monitoring duration (e.g., 14 days). Rather than using large, complex rechargeable batteries, a small disposable battery is integrated into the patch, which is replaced along with the adhesive when depleted, simplifying the power management system.
4Ease of manufacture
If reusable monitor recorder is used, then cost effectiveness is improved, but reliability of continuous monitoring decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into disposable electrode patches and reusable monitor recorders. The recorder is designed to be robust and reliable for long-term use, while the patches are replaced periodically to maintain adhesive effectiveness. This segmentation allows the expensive recorder to be manufactured with high reliability standards while the disposable patches handle the adhesive degradation issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor recorder is pre-configured with sufficient memory storage capacity to accommodate the maximum intended monitoring duration (e.g., 14 days of continuous ECG data). This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for data management interruptions during the monitoring period, ensuring continuous reliable operation of the reusable recorder.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrocardiography monitor is provided. A sealed housing includes one end wider than an opposite end of the sealed housing. Electronic circuitry is provided within the sealed housing. The electronic circuitry includes an electrographic front end circuit to sense electrocardiographic signals and a micro-controller interfaced to the electrocardiographic front end circuit to sample the electrocardiographic signals. A buzzer within the housing outputs feedback to a wearer of the sealed housing.