Flexible Polymer Thin Film Sensor for Motion Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive brain monitoring techniques are susceptible to motion artifacts, making it difficult to obtain good quality ambulatory brain recordings without restricting the wearer's movements, which is essential for monitoring neurological conditions in daily life.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic apparatus with ultra-thin flexible polymer thin film sensors and conductive tracks that conform to the skin, eliminating the need for cables and reducing motion artifacts by establishing perfect contact and minimizing electrical noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional non-invasive brain monitoring techniques are used, then brain activity can be monitored, but motion artifacts severely degrade recording quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible polymer thin film substrates and passivation layers that conform to the skin surface, enabling the sensor to move with the skin rather than creating rigid contact points. This flexibility eliminates motion artifacts by ensuring continuous, stable contact between the sensor and skin during movement, directly resolving the contradiction between monitoring capability and motion-induced signal degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor design incorporates dynamically flexible components including the flexible substrate, conductive tracks, and passivation layer that can adapt to skin movements. The entire sensor assembly is designed to be compliant and adaptable to physiological movements, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that moves with the body, thereby maintaining signal quality during motion
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wearable apparatus is made thin and flexible to conform to skin, then motion artifacts are reduced, but device complexity increases due to multiple layered components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional layers (substrate, conductive layer, passivation layer) into a single integrated flexible sensor assembly. The conductive layer is sandwiched between the substrate and passivation layer, creating a unified thin-film structure that performs multiple functions simultaneously. This merging approach reduces the overall device complexity while maintaining the flexibility and thin profile needed to minimize motion artifacts
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor structure employs a nested arrangement where the conductive layer is embedded within the flexible substrate and passivation layer. This nested configuration allows the conductive elements to be protected and integrated within the flexible polymer matrix, creating a compact multi-functional structure that achieves complex functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the passivation layer is made thick enough to shield electromagnetic interference, then electrical noise is reduced, but the flexibility and skin conformity of the sensor is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The passivation layer is implemented as a thin flexible polymer film that provides electromagnetic shielding while maintaining the overall flexibility of the sensor assembly. The thin-film nature of the passivation layer ensures it does not compromise the sensor's ability to conform to skin surface contours, resolving the contradiction between noise shielding and skin conformity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor employs composite material structures where the passivation layer combines electromagnetic shielding properties with flexible polymer characteristics. This composite approach allows the passivation layer to provide noise protection while maintaining the flexibility and conformability needed for skin-mounted operation, balancing electrical noise reduction with shape adaptability
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 effective monitoring of brain and physiological signals during movement without interference, allowing for remote monitoring of neurological conditions without disrupting daily activities.
Implementation Method 1
the second flexible polymer thin film passivation layer shields the first flexible polymer thin film substrate layer and the conductive layer
Implementation Method 2
the conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive tracks for coupling the at least one sensor to the at least one integrated circuit chip
Data Source
AI summary
Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide a skin-conformable and compact wearable electronic apparatus for monitoring physiological and/or brain signals of the wearer.