Magnetic Stimulation Electrode Assembly for Hygienic Eye Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical stimulation devices for the eye, particularly for visually impaired or blind patients, face challenges in handling and hygiene due to the need for precise placement of wire-shaped stimulation electrodes, which are fragile and require frequent replacement, posing difficulties for self-administration at home.
Innovation Solution
A stimulation electrode arrangement with a first and second electrode carrier, magnetically attached to the electrode holder, allowing for self-positioning and simplified handling, reducing the need for mechanical adjustments and improving hygiene by minimizing direct contact with the electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wire-shaped stimulation electrode is used, then the electrode can be flexibly attached to the eye, but the electrode is fragile and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary component between the electrode and the device. The holder comprises a receiving structure that securely holds the electrode, preventing direct handling of the fragile wire. This mediator protects the electrode from breakage during attachment and removal operations while maintaining flexible positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical insertion/removal of the electrode with a magnetic attachment system. The holder is magnetically attachable to the device, allowing the electrode assembly to be securely fixed without mechanical threading or clipping operations that could damage the fragile electrode. The magnetic force provides reliable retention while enabling easy detachment for replacement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the electrode is handled frequently for replacement, then hygiene can be maintained, but the risk of electrode breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder serves as a protective intermediary that shields the fragile electrode during handling operations. Users interact with the robust holder rather than the delicate electrode wire, significantly reducing the risk of breakage during frequent replacement cycles required for hygiene maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is pre-assembled with the holder in a controlled manufacturing environment, creating a pre-packaged unit. This preliminary assembly ensures proper positioning and protection before the product reaches the user, reducing handling risks during subsequent hygiene-related replacements.
3Ease of operation
If visually impaired users handle the electrode directly, then the attachment process can be simplified, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as a tactile intermediary that visually impaired users can easily grasp and manipulate. The holder's larger size and more substantial structure compared to the thin electrode wire provide better tactile feedback and easier handling for users with visual impairments, while the holder's design ensures accurate positioning of the electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic attachment mechanism replaces complex mechanical positioning operations. Users simply need to bring the holder near the device for magnetic attraction to automatically secure it in the correct position, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment that would be difficult for visually impaired users to achieve.
4Device complexity
If the electrode holder is fixed on the device, then the structure is simple, but adaptability to different users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with magnetic attachment capability, transforming it from a fixed rigid component to a dynamically attachable and detachable element. This dynamic design allows the holder to be easily positioned and repositioned to accommodate different users' anatomical variations while maintaining a simple overall structure without complex adjustment mechanisms.
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
Facilitates easy and hygienic attachment of stimulation electrodes by visually impaired users, reducing the risk of contamination and electrode breakage, while allowing for flexible use across different users without the need for user-specific adaptations.
Implementation Method 1
the first and/or second electrode carrier is configured to be magnetically attached to the electrode holder
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a stimulation electrode assembly (20) for a device (10) for electrically stimulating the eye, the device (10) comprising a glasses-like frame (11) having a nosepiece (12), an arrangement, which is connected to the nosepiece (12), for holding the frame on the head of the patient, and at least one electrode holder (30), which is arranged on the frame (11), for a stimulation electrode (21) that is in particular in the form of a wire, the stimulation electrode assembly (20) having a first electrode carrier (22) and a second electrode carrier (23), the stimulation electrode (21) being positioned between the first electrode carrier (22) and the second electrode carrier (23), the first and/or second electrode carrier being designed to be magnetically attached to the electrode holder (30).