Flexible Dry Electrode with Conductive Mesh Pins for Biopotential Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dry-contact electrodes for biopotential sensing are uncomfortable due to rigidity and prone to motion artefacts, while gel electrodes are cumbersome and unsuitable for long-term monitoring, and existing dry electrodes have low conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A flexible dry-contact electrode with elongated pillar-shaped conductive mesh pins, featuring a hollow core and a non-polarizable tip, designed for improved skin contact and conductivity, even on hairy surfaces, reducing pressure-related artefacts and enhancing user comfort for long-term biopotential measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rigid pins are used for dry-contact electrodes, then ease of manufacture is improved, but user comfort deteriorates and motion artefacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid pins with flexible conductive mesh pins that can deform and adapt to skin contours. The mesh structure allows the electrode to conform to curved surfaces like the scalp while maintaining electrical contact, thereby improving user comfort and reducing motion artefacts without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Ease of operation
If conductive polymer electrodes are used, then user comfort is improved, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure where a flexible substrate (providing comfort) is combined with a conductive mesh layer (providing electrical conductivity). This composite approach allows the electrode to maintain both mechanical flexibility for user comfort and sufficient electrical conductivity for reliable biopotential measurements, overcoming the limitation of conductive polymers.
3Reliability
If gel electrodes are used, then electrical conductivity is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to application and removal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conductive gel from the electrode structure, replacing it with a self-contained conductive mesh that provides adequate conductivity without requiring external gel application. This eliminates the cumbersome steps of gel application and removal while maintaining sufficient electrical contact for biopotential measurements.
4Reliability
If gel electrodes are used, then electrical conductivity is improved, but device complexity and duration of action deteriorate due to drying out over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a disposable dry electrode design with an integrated conductive mesh that does not rely on gel. While each individual electrode has a limited usable life, the disposable nature eliminates issues of gel drying out and degradation over time. The electrode can be discarded after use, ensuring consistent performance throughout its service life without the reliability problems associated with long-term gel electrode use.
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 electrode provides stable and high-quality biopotential measurements with reduced artefacts, maintaining conductivity and comfort over time, comparable to current state-of-the-art dry-contact electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
each pin of said first plurality of contact pins comprises a conductive mesh having an elongated pillar shape
Implementation Method 2
the tip is covered with a non-polarizable electrode material. According to an exemplary embodiment, the non-polarizable electrode material further comprises a mixture of materials containing ions that are also present in biological fluids
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrode (100) for biopotential sensing comprising a main electrode base (1) and at least a first plurality of contact pins (2) protruding from that main electrode base and intended for making contact with a subject's skin. Each of said first plurality of contact pins (2) comprises at least one conductive mesh (3) having an elongated pillar shape. A headset or biopotential monitoring system comprising such an electrode for biopotential sensing.