Pulse Wave Electrode Unit With Segmented Low-Rigidity Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pulse wave measurement electrode units struggle to achieve precise contact with uneven body surfaces, leading to decreased accuracy in detecting biological information due to their rigid design and inability to move electrodes individually.

Innovation Solution

A pulse wave measurement electrode unit with electrodes arranged side by side in the width direction, supported by a flexible support member and a fluid bag that expands to press the electrodes against the body surface, featuring low rigidity portions between electrodes to accommodate uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the support member is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the electrodes cannot move individually to contact uneven body surfaces, but if the support member is made flexible to allow electrode movement, then the structural stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of detecting biological informationVSAvoidstructural stability of support member

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into multiple independent support portions, each capable of moving individually. This segmentation allows each electrode to independently contact uneven body surfaces while maintaining overall structural stability through the distributed support portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the support member have different rigidity characteristics. The support portions have lower rigidity to allow electrode movement and contact with uneven surfaces, while the overall structure maintains sufficient stability through the distributed arrangement of these support portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the electrodes are fixed in position on the support member, then the device structure is simple, but the electrodes cannot adapt to uneven body surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to uneven body surfaceVSAvoidcomplexity of electrode support structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is segmented into multiple independent support portions corresponding to each electrode. This allows each electrode to independently adapt to the body surface contour while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure without requiring complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support portions are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions to conform to uneven body surfaces. This dynamic capability enables adaptability without requiring complex active control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If continuous pressure is applied to ensure electrode contact, then contact reliability improves, but comfort during measurement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of electrode contactVSAvoidcomfort during measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing force is distributed across multiple independent support portions rather than applied continuously and uniformly. This segmentation allows each electrode to maintain reliable contact independently while reducing overall pressure discomfort for the measurement subject.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rigidity parameter of the support portions is optimized to provide sufficient pressing force for reliable electrode contact while maintaining flexibility to adapt to body contours. This parameter optimization achieves both contact reliability and measurement comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration allows for suitable contact with body surfaces, enhancing the precision of biological information detection and improving the accuracy of pulse wave measurements.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid bag configured to expand and contract via the supply and discharge of fluid and configured to expand upon measurement to press the electrodes against the body surface of the measurement subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure expansion: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11457828B2Pulse wave measurement electrode unit and pulse wave measurement device

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 OMRON CORP

AI summary

A pulse wave measurement electrode unit (200) includes electrodes (41 to 46) including a pair of current applying electrodes and a first pair of voltage measuring electrodes; a support member (210) that supports the electrodes on a first main surface (211) that faces a body surface of a measurement subject in a case that the pulse wave measurement electrode unit is attached on the measurement subject; and a fluid bag (24) configured to expand and contract and configured to expand upon measurement to press the electrodes (41 to 46) against the body surface of the measurement subject. The support member (210) includes a length direction (L) corresponding to a circumferential direction of the device in an attached state to the measurement subject and a width direction (W) orthogonal to the length direction (L) and a thickness direction. The electrodes (41 to 46) are arranged side by side in the width direction (W). Low rigidity portions are provided between adjacent electrodes, the low rigidity portions having a lower rigidity than a rigidity of portions that overlap the electrodes in the thickness direction.