Interdigitated Conductive Textile for ECG and Respiratory Signal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile structures for detecting body surface electrical signals, such as ECG and respiratory signals, face challenges including stiffness, interference from external magnetic fields, and limited refinement, particularly with metal lines which are difficult to design and not soft enough for comfortable wear.

Innovation Solution

A textile structure comprising a non-conductive textile with interdigitated conductive regions and test terminals, coupled with a signal acquiring and processing unit and filter circuit, allows for the detection of ECG and respiratory signals, offering a soft, elastic, and flexible solution that separates signal frequencies effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal lines are used in textile structures for detecting body surface electrical signals, then the textile structure can detect ECG and respiratory signals, but the textile structure becomes stiff and is interfered by external magnetic fields

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection capabilityVSAvoidsoftness and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes metal lines from the textile structure and replaces them with conductive polymer materials. This extraction of the harmful metal component eliminates magnetic field interference while maintaining the necessary electrical conductivity for signal detection through the conductive polymer's inherent properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional metal-based electrical conduction system with a polymer-based system. The conductive polymer provides electrical pathways through its molecular structure rather than through metal conductors, thereby eliminating magnetic interference while preserving signal detection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection capabilityVSAvoidmagnetic field interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the limitation of polymer materials (lower conductivity compared to metal) into an advantage by eliminating magnetic field interference. The conductive polymer's properties are optimized to provide sufficient conductivity for biomedical signal detection while being inherently immune to magnetic interference, turning a potential disadvantage into a beneficial feature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If optical fibre conversion circuit is used to detect body surface electrical signals, then the detection can be performed, but the circuit design becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection capabilityVSAvoidcircuit design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex optical fibre conversion circuits with a simpler direct electrical conduction system using conductive polymers. The conductive polymer integrates both sensing and signal transmission functions into a single material, eliminating the need for complex optical-to-electrical conversion circuitry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of signal sensing, conduction, and transmission into a single conductive polymer material. This integration eliminates the need for separate optical fibres and conversion circuits, significantly simplifying the overall system design while maintaining detection capability

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

The textile structure provides a comfortable, effective means to measure respiratory and heartbeat signals, enhancing signal detection accuracy and user comfort while minimizing interference, suitable for various applications including healthcare monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

The conductive textile has a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region is interdigitated into but not electrically coupled to the third region. The first and second test terminals are used for detecting ECG signals, and the first and third test terminals are sued for detecting respiratory signals.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The filter circuit is coupled to the signal acquiring and processing unit. The filter circuit separates the ECG signals and the respiratory signals from the signals processed by the signal acquiring and processing unit.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS8165654B2Textile structure for detecting body surface electrical signals of human and signal detector using the same

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 TAIWAN TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

AI summary

A textile structure for detecting body surface electrical signals of human is provided. The textile structure includes a non-conductive textile, a conductive textile, and a plurality of test terminals. The non-conductive textile covers the human body. The conductive textile has a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region is interdigitated into but not electrically coupled to the third region. The first to third test terminals are respectively coupled to the first to third regions of the conductive textile. The first and second test terminals are used for detecting ECG signals. The first and third test terminals are used for detecting respiratory signals.