Flexible Respiratory Patch with Wireless Add-On Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory monitoring devices are either wasteful and costly due to disposable sensors, uncomfortable, and lack reliability and hygiene due to rigid housings and direct electrical connections, making them unsuitable for continuous 24-hour monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system with a flexible patch and a reusable add-on device that provides wireless energy and signal transfer, eliminating the need for direct electrical contact and allowing for comfortable, long-term monitoring with improved hygiene and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If disposable sensors are used in respiratory monitoring devices, then the devices can be simple and low-cost, but they cause waste and are costly in the long run
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separable parts: a reusable add-on device and a disposable patch. The add-on device contains the electronics and power source, while the patch contains the sensors and adhesive elements. This segmentation allows the expensive electronics to be reused while the cheap disposable patch is discarded after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable patch is designed to be discarded after a single use, while the add-on device is recovered and reused. The patch contains single-use components like adhesive elements and flexible sensors that are replaced, while the add-on device with its battery and processing unit is retained for multiple uses.
2Strength
If rigid housings are used in respiratory monitoring devices, then structural strength is improved, but comfort and suitability for continuous wear deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is constructed from flexible materials including a flexible substrate, flexible sensors, and a flexible adhesive element. This flexible construction allows the patch to conform to the patient's body contours and remain comfortable during continuous wear, while still providing sufficient structural integrity for the electronic components.
3Reliability
If direct electrical connections are used between patch and add-on device, then signal transfer reliability is improved, but hygiene and reusability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible adhesive element serves as an intermediary between the disposable patch and the reusable add-on device. This adhesive interface eliminates the need for direct electrical contacts that would require skin penetration or conductive gel, thereby maintaining hygiene while enabling reliable wireless signal transfer between the components.
4Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring devices are used, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but continuous 24-hour monitoring and long term use become unsuitable
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a dynamic wearable system that adapts to continuous use. The flexible patch can be worn around the clock without causing discomfort or skin irritation, and the reusable add-on device can be charged and operated continuously. The system transitions from static, short-term monitoring to dynamic, long-term wearable monitoring.
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 system enables efficient, comfortable, and hygienic continuous monitoring of respiratory status by using a flexible patch with wireless energy transfer, reducing waste and improving reliability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus further includes the piezoelectric film which converts acoustical waves generated by the patient's respiration into electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
The device includes a flexible patch having an acoustic sensor... The sensor arrangement is configured to detect or sense the body activity related to the respiratory status
Implementation Method 3
A reusable add-on device which is attachable to and detachable from the flexible patch and adapted to provide energy to and/or to receive the sensor signal from the flexible patch in a wireless manner
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system and a method for detection of a respiratory status, wherein the system comprises a flexible patch being configured to be affixed to skin of a patient's body, wherein the patch comprises at least one sensor arrangement for sensing a body activity of said patient's body when the patch is affixed to the skin, and wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to determine and/or output a sensor signal corresponding to said body activity. The system is configured to determine a respiratory airflow indicator based on the sensor signal. Alternatively or additionally, the system comprises a re-usable add-on device being attachable to and detachable from the patch and being adapted to provide energy to and/or receive the sensor signal from the patch.