Magnetic Skin Patch Sensors for Reliable EMG Without Skin Irritation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic devices rely on surface electromyographic (EMG) sensors that struggle with obtaining reliable muscle activity data, leading to limited effectiveness, and there is a need for improved skin patch sensors that reduce skin irritation and enhance signal strength.
Innovation Solution
Skin patch sensors with magnetic alignment and positioning features, incorporating internal coils for inductive coupling, and solenoids in an anti-Helmholtz configuration for wireless power and communication, along with adhesive layers to minimize skin irritation and improve signal capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface EMG sensors are used for prosthetic control, then cost is reduced and practicality is improved, but reliability of muscle activity data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The skin patch is divided into multiple segments including adhesive layer, flexible substrate, sensor elements, and protective layer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while reducing overall skin irritation through the flexible substrate that conforms to skin contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible substrate and thin film structure for the skin patch that conforms to the contours of the skin. This flexible design reduces skin irritation by adapting to skin movement and shape, while maintaining reliable sensor contact for muscle activity detection.
2Reliability
If adhesive layers are used to retain skin patch sensors, then attachment is achieved, but skin irritation increases with repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reusable skin patch design where the adhesive layer can be replaced without replacing the entire sensor assembly. This preliminary preparation of modular components allows users to maintain reliable attachment by simply replacing adhesive layers, reducing the frequency of complete reattachment and thereby reducing skin irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the adhesive layer from the sensor components, allowing the adhesive to be discarded and replaced while recovering and reusing the expensive sensor elements. This discarding and recovering approach maintains reliable attachment functionality while minimizing skin irritation by reducing repeated full-attachment cycles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If skin patches are rotated around a magnetically coupled pivot point, then skin irritation is reduced, but positioning precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magnetic pivot point as an intermediary mechanism that enables rotation of the skin patch. This magnetic mediator allows the patch to be repositioned and rotated to different orientations while maintaining secure attachment, thereby distributing adhesive contact areas and reducing skin irritation without compromising positioning accuracy.
4Ease of operation
If internal coils are configured for inductive coupling, then wireless power transfer is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the internal coil system to serve multiple functions: wireless power transfer, data communication, and potentially sensing. This multi-functionality approach enables wireless operation without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same coil infrastructure supports multiple operational modes.
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 solution reduces skin irritation and enhances signal strength by using magnetic alignment and inductive coupling, enabling reliable EMG data capture and effective control of prosthetic limbs.
Implementation Method 1
alignment, positioning and attachment using magnets
Implementation Method 2
internal coils to inductively couple to external power transmitting and communications coils
Implementation Method 3
solenoids in anti-Helmholtz configurations
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Skin patch sensors for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters, with alignment, positioning and attachment using magnets. The repeated use of releasable adhesive layers to retain skin patch sensors on skin can cause skin irritation, which can be reduced by rotating a skin patch between attachment times around a magnetically coupled pivot point. Skin patch sensors can be configured with internal coils to inductively couple to external power transmitting and communications coils with solenoids in anti-Helmholtz configurations.