Integrated Skin Electrode Prongs for Uniform Electric Field Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional skin treatment electrodes face manufacturing complexity, potential differences, phase differences, and depth errors due to non-uniform needle assembly, leading to inconsistent electrical energy distribution and penetration.

Innovation Solution

An electrode structure with integrally formed prongs and a conductive electrode plate, ensuring uniform electric potential and consistent penetration, featuring a non-radial electric field distribution for enhanced treatment efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple needles are assembled separately onto a base with circuit patterns, then electrical energy can be supplied to the skin, but manufacturing complexity increases and potential differences occur between needles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of electrical energy distributionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the needle and base into a single integrated electrode structure where the needle is formed as one piece with the base, eliminating separate assembly operations. This integration ensures uniform electrical potential distribution across all needles while simplifying the manufacturing process by removing the assembly step entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated electrode structure ensures that all needles maintain the same electric potential by being formed as a single conductive piece. This equipotential design eliminates potential differences between needles that would otherwise occur in separately assembled structures, improving electrical energy distribution uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

2Adaptability or versatility

If needles are assembled with varying contact lengths to the base, then assembly flexibility is achieved, but impedance uniformity deteriorates and potential differences occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidimpedance uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the needle and base into a single integrated structure, the patent eliminates the contact length variability inherent in assembled structures. The integrated design ensures uniform impedance across all needles while maintaining assembly flexibility through the modular nature of the overall electrode system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If needles are assembled separately, then replacement and adjustment are easier, but depth error and interval error increase due to assembly variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle replacement easeVSAvoidpenetration depth uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by designing the electrode as a modular system where the integrated needle-base unit can be easily replaced as a single component. This segmentation maintains manufacturing precision for penetration depth while enabling easy replacement, as the entire integrated unit can be swapped without affecting other electrodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If conventional needle assembly is used, then basic electrostimulation function is achieved, but treatment efficiency is reduced due to non-uniform electric field distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidelectric field uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated needle-base structure creates uniform electric field distribution by ensuring all needles are at the same potential and have identical electrical characteristics. This uniformity improves treatment efficiency by eliminating the need for complex impedance matching or individual needle adjustment, while maintaining reliable electric field distribution across all treatment sites.

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

Simplifies manufacturing, ensures uniform electric potential and penetration depth, and enhances treatment efficiency by uniformly distributing high-intensity electric fields for improved skin treatment outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

an electrode plate made of a conductive material and a plurality of prongs formed integrally with and made of the same material as the electrode plate... When the electrical signal is applied to the area, the electrode plate and the plurality of prongs may have the same electric potential as each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

inducing heat diffusion in portions of pins inserted into the skin even when relatively low energy is applied to the pins inserted into the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20260014368A1Electrode structure for skin electrostimulation

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 AGNES MEDICAL CO LTD

AI summary

An electrode structure for skin electrostimulation includes an electrode plate made of a conductive material, and a plurality of prongs formed integrally with and made of the same material as the electrode plate, the plurality of prongs extending from one end of the electrode plate in the same direction as each other. End portions of the plurality of prongs are configured to be inserted into human skin to transmit electrical energy to the human skin.