Movable Antenna in Wearable Sensor Patch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable body sensors face challenges in maintaining comfort and resilience when attached to the body for extended periods, as they need to accommodate skin deformation and movement while minimizing interference from rigid components like antennas.

Innovation Solution

A physical assessment parameter sensing patch with a movably disposed antenna within an enclosure, allowing the antenna to float relative to the patch's layers, which reduces the fixed area of rigid components and enhances flexibility, ensuring the patch conforms to skin deformation without detaching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid components like antennas are fixed in the patch, then wireless communication function is ensured, but the patch flexibility and comfort are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication functionVSAvoidpatch flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is designed to be movable within the patch rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position as the patch deforms with skin movement. This dynamic configuration maintains wireless communication reliability while adapting to the flexible nature of the wearable patch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameter of the antenna from fixed to movable, enabling the antenna to change its position relative to the patch layers. This parameter change allows the rigid antenna to coexist with the flexible patch material, resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and patch flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If more devices are affixed to the patient's body for extended monitoring, then more physiological parameters can be monitored, but comfort and skin resilience are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidcomfort and skin resilience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible patch structure with thin film layers that can conform to skin deformation. The movable antenna design further enhances flexibility by allowing the rigid component to move within the flexible enclosure, maintaining comfort during extended wear while enabling continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patch is divided into multiple layers including flexible substrate layers and an antenna enclosure. This segmentation allows different parts of the patch to have different functions - the flexible layers provide comfort and skin conformity, while the antenna enclosure protects the wireless communication component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10390759B2Physical assessment parameter measuring device

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 WELCH ALLYN INC

AI summary

A physical assessment parameter sensing device includes a layer attachable to a patient, a sensing unit operable to detect a physical assessment parameter of the patient, and an antenna connected to the circuit and operable to receive and transmit a radio frequency signal. The antenna is movably disposed within the sensing device. In certain examples, the sensing device includes an enclosure within which the antenna is movably received.