Regional Oximetry Sensor Head With Notched Adhesive Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing regional oximetry sensors face challenges in providing comfortable and secure attachment to the patient's skin, leading to discomfort and potential dislodgment due to mechanical decoupling and peel-off issues during patient movement.
Innovation Solution
The regional oximetry sensor design includes a face tape layer and a base tape layer with notches for mechanical decoupling, focus elements for improved optical coupling, and a peel-off resistant stem configuration with feet to distribute adhesive loads, reducing peel and shear forces on the adhesive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor uses adhesive tape layers for skin attachment, then the sensor can be securely attached to the patient skin surface, but the sensor may cause discomfort and dislodgment during patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor divides the adhesive attachment system into separate functional layers: a face tape layer for initial skin contact and a base tape layer for structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently - the face tape provides gentle skin contact while the base tape provides secure anchoring, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and patient comfort during movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sensor uses a rigid structure for optical component support, then the optical components are properly positioned, but the sensor causes discomfort during patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor employs a flexible base tape layer that can conform to skin contours and accommodate patient movement while maintaining the precise spatial relationships of optical components. This flexible support structure eliminates the discomfort caused by rigid structures while preserving manufacturing precision through careful design of the flexible substrate.
3Ease of operation
If the stem is positioned at the edge of the sensor head for easy connection, then cable connection is simplified, but peel forces concentrate on the adhesive causing dislodgment
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is positioned in the interior of the sensor head rather than at the edge, distributing connection forces across the interior adhesive area. This interior positioning creates a more favorable force distribution pattern that reduces concentrated peel forces while maintaining ease of cable connection through proper stem orientation and connection geometry.
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 design enhances patient comfort by allowing movement while maintaining secure attachment, reducing the likelihood of sensor dislodgment and improving optical transmission for accurate tissue oxygenation measurements.
Implementation Method 1
at least one emitter configured to transmit optical radiation into the patient skin surface, a near-field detector configured to detect the optical radiation after attenuation by tissue of the patient
Implementation Method 2
The focus element improves optical transmissions by gently pushing into the skin and providing improved optical coupling with the skin
Data Source
AI summary
A regional oximetry sensor can have a sensor head configured to secure to skin of a user and a stem extending from the sensor head. The sensor head can include an emitter configured to transmit optical radiation into the skin and at least one detector configured to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by blood flow within the skin. The stem can be configured to transmit electrical signals from the sensor head to a cable. A plurality of notches can extend from a perimeter of the sensor head towards an interior thereof. The plurality of notches can form a plurality of independently flexible cutouts in the sensor head configured to allow for movement of at least a portion of the skin of the user underlying the sensor head when the regional oximetry sensor is in use.