Handheld Electrocardiograph Neutral Electrode Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electrocardiographs face challenges in accurately measuring electrocardiogram waveforms and blood oxygen saturation simultaneously due to skin impedance and unstable electrode contact, and the design of traditional neutral electrodes is inefficient, leading to increased costs and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable electrocardiograph with a neutral electrode of varying shapes such as one-quarter circle, elongated bar, or oval, combined with photoelectric cells for pulse rate measurement, and a clamping mechanism using torsion or U-shaped springs to ensure stable contact, allowing for accurate simultaneous measurement of electrocardiogram and blood oxygen saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional vertical elongated rectangular neutral electrode is used, then the electrode structure is simple, but it cannot contact fingers of different lengths and postures, leading to measurement failure
Solution Approach 1:
The neutral electrode is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to adapt to different finger shapes, lengths, and holding postures. This dynamic flexibility enables reliable contact across various user scenarios without requiring multiple electrode designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode's physical parameters (shape, size, flexibility) are optimized to change adaptively. By modifying the electrode from a rigid rectangular form to a flexible configuration, it can conform to different contact surfaces while maintaining electrical connection reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the neutral electrode is made into a large enough rectangular to ensure contact, then contact reliability improves, but material is wasted and product cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the electrode excessively large to guarantee contact, the design uses a moderately sized flexible electrode that achieves sufficient contact through adaptability. This partial action approach avoids material waste while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode design changes from a large rigid structure to a smaller flexible structure, optimizing the balance between contact reliability and material usage. The flexibility parameter compensates for reduced size, ensuring adequate contact without excess material.
3Ease of operation
If the neutral electrode is made into a large enough rectangular to ensure contact, then contact reliability improves, but the shape of the portable electrocardiograph is not beautiful
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible electrode allows the device to maintain a compact, aesthetically pleasing form factor while adapting its contact surface dynamically during use. The electrode's flexibility enables reliable contact without requiring a bulky permanent structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode provides sufficient contact area through flexibility rather than excessive size, allowing the device to maintain an elegant, compact appearance while ensuring reliable electrical connection during operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If photoelectric cells are added for pulse rate measurement, then measurement capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The photoelectric cells for pulse rate measurement are integrated into the existing electrode structure and housing design. By merging the optical measurement components with the electrical contact components, the device gains enhanced functionality without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure is designed to support multiple measurement functions (electrocardiogram and pulse rate) within a unified platform. The housing and electrode system serve dual purposes: electrical contact for ECG and optical path for pulse measurement, achieving multi-functionality without excessive complexity.
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 solution enables real-time detection of electrical potential variations, reducing measurement errors and improving accuracy while minimizing material usage and costs, ensuring the device is user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting diode is provided at the corresponding position of the inner wall of the upper half of the finger hole
Implementation Method 2
a photoelectric receiving cell is provided on the inner wall of the lower half of the finger hole
Implementation Method 3
the clamping cover is closed onto the housing by means of a torsion spring, and the torsion spring is sleeved on a shaft which is connected with the housing
Implementation Method 4
detect the electrical potential variation on the measured person's body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A portable electrocardiograph, characterized in that a clamping cover which tends to close automatically is provided on one end of a housing; a finger hole is provided between the clamping cover and the housing; a lower half of the inner wall of the finger hole is defined on the housing; an upper half of the inner wall of the finger hole is provided on the clamping cover; the lower half of the inner wall is provided with a first electrode; the other end of the housing is provided with a second electrode; and the back face of the housing is provided with a third electrode, in which the first electrode or the third electrode is a neutral electrode. According to the present invention, at least one portion of at least one of the middle finger, the so-called ring finger, and the little finger of the user's hand for grasping the electrocardiograph can contact the neutral electrode, such that the error of the measured result caused by electrical potential fluctuation on the measured person's body can be eliminated.