Knitted Garment Electrodes With Stable ECG Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Knitted electrodes in wearable health monitoring systems face challenges in maintaining stable positioning and dimensions due to elasticity, which affects the quality and repeatability of ECG signals, especially when the wearer is in motion.
Innovation Solution
The method involves knitting conductive electrodes with a higher density and applying rigidifying materials like thermoplastic polyurethane or fusible yarn to stabilize selected regions, while knitting adjacent areas with a lower density to maintain a fixed distance between electrodes, ensuring consistent signal measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If knitted electrodes are made stretchable to fit the body, then comfort and adaptability are improved, but electrode positioning stability and signal quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into two distinct fabric types: elastic knitted fabric for the electrode regions and non-elastic stable fabric for the areas between electrodes. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function - the elastic regions adapt to body contours while the non-elastic regions maintain fixed electrode spacing and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the garment are assigned different mechanical properties. The electrode-containing regions use elastic knitted fabric for comfort and body conformity, while the inter-electrode regions use non-elastic stable fabric to maintain geometric stability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing stretchability where needed and stability where required.
2Ease of operation
If knitted electrodes are made with higher elasticity to accommodate body movements, then wearability is improved, but manufacturing precision of electrode dimensions and spacing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The garment structure is segmented into elastic electrode regions and non-elastic stable regions. The non-elastic fabric portions are specifically designed to maintain precise electrode spacing and dimensional stability, ensuring manufacturing precision is preserved in the critical inter-electrode areas while allowing elasticity in the electrode regions for wearability.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment exhibits local quality differentiation where electrode regions have high elasticity for comfort during movement, while the stable fabric regions maintain consistent dimensions and spacing. This local property assignment allows the garment to be both wearable and manufacturing-precise in the areas that require it.
3Ease of manufacture
If the entire garment is made from uniform elastic knitted fabric, then ease of manufacture is improved, but signal quality and repeatability deteriorate due to stretching artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is segmented into different fabric types: elastic knitted fabric for electrode regions and non-elastic stable fabric for inter-electrode regions. This segmentation prevents stretching artifacts in the measurement areas while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated construction methods, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the garment have different material properties tailored to their function. The stable fabric regions ensure measurement precision by preventing stretching artifacts, while the elastic regions provide comfort. This local quality approach maintains signal quality without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for stabilizing the physical dimensions and positioning of at least one selected textile region of a knitted garment. The method includes producing the garment including a conductive textile electrode, rigidifying the at least one selected textile region and knitting a preconfigured region proximal to the at least one selected textile region with a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form. The invention further provides a garment having a tubular form, knitted by a seamless knitting machine with base-yarns. The garment includes at least one conductive textile electrode. The garment further includes at least one preconfigured region in proximity to the at least one selected textile region, having a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form and the at least one selected textile region.