Ostomy Base Plate Sensor Assembly for Moisture Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ostomy systems lack reliable methods for determining the nature, severity, and rapidness of moisture propagation in adhesive materials, leading to potential severe leakage and skin damage without timely appliance replacement.

Innovation Solution

The ostomy system incorporates a base plate with integrated sensor assemblies and adhesive layers, utilizing electrodes and a monitor device to detect changes in capacitance and resistance, providing real-time data on adhesive performance and alerting users to impending failures, thus preventing leakage and skin damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor assemblies with electrodes are integrated into the base plate to detect moisture propagation, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracy of moisture propagationVSAvoidcomplexity of base plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor assembly is integrated directly into the base plate structure, combining the adhesive layer, electrodes, and monitoring functions into a single unified component. This merging approach enables moisture detection capability while maintaining a compact design that does not significantly increase overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, adheres to the skin, and incorporates sensor capabilities for detecting moisture propagation. The adhesive layer itself serves dual purposes as both the bonding medium and the sensing medium, eliminating the need for separate sensor components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If real-time monitoring of adhesive performance is implemented, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of leakage preventionVSAvoidenergy consumption of monitor device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system operates by periodically measuring capacitance changes between electrodes rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic measurement approach provides reliable detection of moisture propagation while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the system in a low-power state between measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive material itself serves as the sensing medium, utilizing its inherent dielectric properties to detect moisture. The system leverages the natural physical changes in the adhesive when exposed to moisture, eliminating the need for additional active sensing components that would consume energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution enables users to promptly replace the ostomy appliance, preventing severe leakage and skin damage by providing accurate, real-time monitoring of adhesive performance, ensuring continuous skin protection and system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing electrodes and a monitor device to detect changes in capacitance and resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

utilizing electrodes and a monitor device to detect changes in capacitance and resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3727238B1Sensor assembly part and a base plate for an ostomy appliance and a method for manufacturing a base plate or a sensor assembly part
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 COLOPLAST AS
  • EP3727238B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3727238B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3727238B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a base plate and a method for manufacturing a base plate. The method comprising: positioning a coupling part, the coupling part defining a terminal interface region; positioning an electrode assembly; positioning one or more terminal elements such that a distal part of each of the one or more terminal elements extends into the terminal interface region and a proximal part of each of the one or more terminal elements extends to the proximal side of the electrode assembly; affixing the proximal part of each of the one or more terminal elements to respective connection parts of the one or more electrodes; and securing the distal part of each of the one or more terminal elements to the coupling part.