Flexible Bioelectric Sensor with Anatomical Alignment Marks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioelectric sensor devices, such as vests and belts, face challenges in conforming to individual patient anatomies and accurately placing electrodes due to rigid substrates, leading to difficulties in proper torso alignment and varying patient shapes and sizes, which limits their effectiveness in cardiac monitoring and resynchronization therapy.
Innovation Solution
A bioelectric sensor device with a flexible substrate and adjustable arms that can be deployed on either the anterior or posterior torso surface, featuring anatomical alignment marks and sensors that can be connected to a monitoring system, allowing for precise placement and accommodation of unique patient anatomies, and can be folded for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid substrate is used for the sensor device, then the device structure is stable and easy to manufacture, but the device cannot conform to individual patient anatomies and varies in placement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape. The flexible substrate allows the device to conform to the curved surfaces of different patient anatomies while maintaining electrode alignment, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and anatomical adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible substrate as the base material for the sensor device, replacing rigid materials. This flexible film structure enables the device to bend and conform to individual patient body surfaces while maintaining the relative positions of electrodes and anatomical alignment marks, thus achieving both adaptability and placement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor device sizes are provided, then various patient body types can be accommodated, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sensor device is designed as a universal single-size solution that can adapt to various patient body types through its conformability. The device's flexible nature allows it to stretch and bend across different torso sizes and shapes, eliminating the need for multiple size variants while maintaining broad applicability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes changes in physical parameters (flexibility, elasticity) of the substrate material to achieve adaptability across different patient anatomies. By changing the mechanical properties of the substrate rather than the device dimensions, a single device design can accommodate various body types without increasing complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If anatomical alignment marks are added to the device, then placement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anatomical alignment marks are implemented as visual indicators (color or pattern changes) on the flexible substrate. These marks provide clear visual guidance for aligning the device with patient anatomy during application, improving placement accuracy without adding mechanical complexity to the device structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments of a bioelectric sensor device and a method of utilizing such device are disclosed. The bioelectric sensor device includes a central portion and an arm extending from the central portion, where at least a portion of the arm extends along an arm axis. The central portion includes an anatomical alignment mark adapted to align the central portion with an anatomical feature of a lateral surface of a torso of a patient. Further, the arm is adapted to be disposed on an anterior or posterior surface of the torso. The bioelectric sensor device also includes a sensor disposed on the arm along the arm axis, and a connector electrically connected to the sensor.