Flexible Pillow Electrode for Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator Skin Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable cardiac defibrillator systems face challenges in achieving reliable electrical contact with the skin due to intrusive or irritating electrode designs, which can lead to suboptimal monitoring and increased risk of skin infections.

Innovation Solution

The development of flexible ECG electrodes integrated into a support structure that conforms to the body, featuring a compressible pillow structure, moisture barrier, and electrostatic shield, allowing for better skin contact and reduced irritation, along with the ability to be washed and reused, enhancing patient comfort and hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional rigid electrodes are used, then electrical contact with skin is achieved, but skin irritation and intrusion occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contactVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible electrode assembly with a pillow structure that can conform to the body's contour. The flexible material allows the electrode to make reliable electrical contact with the skin without being rigid or intrusive, thereby reducing skin irritation while maintaining contact quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the electrode by introducing a compressible pillow structure that can be compressed to a lower profile. This parameter change allows the electrode to adapt between a higher profile state for better contact and a lower profile state for comfort, resolving the contradiction between reliable contact and skin irritation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrodes are made flexible to reduce irritation, then skin comfort improves, but electrical contact reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin irritationVSAvoidelectrical contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible electrode assembly maintains skin comfort through its flexible nature while ensuring reliable electrical contact through the pillow structure design that can be compressed to ensure firm contact with the skin surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode assembly incorporates dynamic characteristics through its compressible pillow structure that can adapt its profile. The electrode transitions between different states (higher profile for comfort, lower profile for contact), allowing it to dynamically adjust to maintain both comfort and electrical contact reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electrodes are designed to be washable and reusable, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated electrode assembly structure. The washable, reusable electrode combines the electrical contact function, the compressible pillow structure, and the moisture barrier into one unified component that can be cleaned and reused, improving hygiene without requiring multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 flexible electrode design improves electrical contact and signal quality, reduces skin irritation, and increases patient compliance by providing a comfortable and hygienic wearable cardiac defibrillator system.

Implementation Method 1

The electrode assembly may have a moisture barrier so as to trap moisture from the patient's skin, for better conduction and lateral shifting of the electrode along the patient's skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoisture trapping: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The electrode assembly may have an electrostatic shield between the electrode and the signal terminal so as to shield the electrode from electrical noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic shielding: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

The WCD system may have a support structure that is dimensioned to be worn so as to press the electrodes towards the body of the patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS20230372702A1Wearable cardiac defibrillation system with electrode assemblies having pillow structure

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 PHYSIO CONTROL CORP

AI summary

In embodiments, a wearable cardiac defibrillation (WCD) system includes one or more flexible ECG electrodes. The WCD system may have a support structure that is dimensioned to be worn so as to press the electrodes towards the body of the patient. The electrodes may be made from appropriate material so as to flex in order to match a contour of the body of the patient. An advantage over the prior art is that the flexible electrode may make better electrical contact with the patient's skin, and therefore provide a better ECG signal for the WCD system to perform its diagnosis.