Handheld ECG Patch with Integrated Electrodes and Conductive Adhesive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ECG monitoring devices face challenges such as poor electrode adherence due to chest hair, time-consuming skin preparation, lead wire issues, difficulty in precise electrode placement, and inconvenience for post-operative patients, as well as the lack of portable devices for independent home use.
Innovation Solution
A handheld ECG monitoring device with integrated electrodes and conductive adhesive, allowing for repositioning and easy attachment to the skin without lead wires, enabling quick and reliable ECG measurements without the need for shaving and minimizing skin preparation, suitable for use on cluttered post-operative chests and for home monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separate electrodes with lead wires are used, then ECG measurements can be taken, but electrode adherence is poor due to chest hair and lead wires cause torque that makes electrodes peel away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes and their connecting leads into a single integrated patch device. The electrodes are mounted on a flexible substrate with conductive traces that directly connect to each other, eliminating the need for separate lead wires. This integration resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable electrical connections while removing the torque-causing lead wires that made traditional electrodes difficult to attach and prone to peeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch is pre-assembled with all electrodes and conductive connections in their final positions before application to the patient. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex attachment procedures during patient examination, resolving the contradiction between reliable connection and ease of operation by having everything ready in advance.
2Reliability
If multiple separate electrodes are used for ECG monitoring, then comprehensive cardiac data can be obtained, but skin preparation and electrode placement is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes into a single patch unit that can be applied as one piece to the patient's chest. This integration maintains the ability to obtain comprehensive cardiac data from multiple electrodes while reducing the time required for skin preparation and placement, as the entire multi-electrode assembly is applied simultaneously rather than individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch is pre-configured with all necessary electrodes and conductive connections in their correct positions before patient application. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time-consuming process of individually placing and connecting multiple electrodes during the examination, resolving the contradiction between measurement quality and time efficiency.
3Reliability
If traditional ECG electrodes are used, then cardiac function can be monitored, but the process is uncomfortable and embarrassing for women requiring removal of clothing layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes into a single compact patch that can be applied to a limited area of the chest. This integration maintains cardiac monitoring capability while reducing the need for extensive clothing removal, as the patch requires access to only one small region rather than multiple distributed electrode sites, thereby improving patient comfort and convenience.
4Measurement precision
If multiple separate electrodes are used, then ECG measurements can be taken, but it is difficult to place electrodes at exactly the same locations for baseline comparison
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes into a single patch with a fixed, pre-determined geometric arrangement. This integration maintains the ability to take ECG measurements while dramatically improving placement consistency, as the entire patch is applied as one unit rather than requiring independent positioning of multiple electrodes, thereby reducing device complexity and improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are pre-positioned in their exact final locations during patch manufacturing, with permanent markings indicating the correct placement site on the patient's body. This preliminary action ensures consistent electrode locations across multiple measurements without requiring complex positioning procedures, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
5Reliability
If traditional ECG monitoring is used, then cardiac data can be collected, but post-operative patients with tubes and bandages present challenges for electrode attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes into a single compact patch that can be applied to limited accessible areas of the chest. This integration maintains ECG data collection capability while improving adaptability to post-operative conditions, as the patch requires access to only one small region rather than multiple distributed sites that may be blocked by tubes and bandages.
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 device reduces time and discomfort for ECG measurements, provides higher quality ECG data, and allows for easy, repeated measurements at optimal locations, enhancing clinical efficiency and patient convenience, including use in post-operative patients and at home.
Implementation Method 1
electrodes 12, 30 make good contact with the skin
Implementation Method 2
adhesive material touching the skin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
An ECG monitoring device comprises an integral handheld device including a ECG electronic module and an electrode patch having a plurality of electrodes which contact a subject by conductive hydrogel. A release liner covers and protects the hydrogel prior to use and is removed to expose the hydrogel. A second release liner is removed to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive by means of which the device is attached to a subject. The first and second release liners may be parts of a single release liner layer. After use the electrode patch is disposable and the ECG electronic module is detached from the patch for reuse.