Radiolucent Chest Assembly for Unobstructed Medical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ECG systems are cumbersome and interfere with medical imaging due to their radiolucency issues, requiring improvements for patient mobility and imaging compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, disposable, and radiolucent chest assembly with flexible conductive traces and connectors that universally connect to conventional electrodes, allowing wireless signal transmission and reducing interference with medical imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ECG electrodes with lead wires are used, then electrical signal transmission is achieved, but patient mobility is restricted and the system becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes and their associated lead wires into a single integrated chest assembly. The flexible substrate integrates multiple electrodes at predetermined positions with conductive traces that route signals to connection points, eliminating the need for separate lead wires for each electrode and simplifying the overall system while maintaining patient mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest assembly is designed as a segmented flexible substrate with electrodes positioned at specific locations. This segmentation allows the assembly to be placed on the patient's chest in a distributed manner while maintaining flexibility and comfort, enabling patient movement without the cumbersome wiring of conventional systems.
2Ease of operation
If conventional ECG systems with lead wires are used, then signal transmission is achieved, but the lead wires become intertwined making connections difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual lead wires are merged into a single flexible substrate that contains integrated conductive traces. This consolidation eliminates the problem of intertwined wires, as the substrate provides a unified, organized structure for signal transmission from multiple electrodes to the monitoring device.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ECG systems are used, then monitoring is achieved, but the system interferes with medical imaging due to radiolucency issues
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive traces on the flexible substrate are designed with optimized dimensions and materials to achieve radiolucency. By changing the physical parameters of the conductive elements (such as using thinner traces or radiolucent materials), the system becomes transparent to X-rays and other medical imaging modalities while maintaining adequate electrical conductivity for reliable signal transmission.
4Manufacturing precision
If fully-integrated electrode assemblies are used, then electrode placement accuracy is improved, but the cost increases and flexibility for alternative placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The chest assembly is designed as a universal platform with electrodes positioned at standard ECG locations on a flexible substrate. This universal design maintains precise electrode placement according to standard protocols while allowing the entire assembly to be adapted to different patient anatomies and monitoring requirements, providing both precision and flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lightweight, disposable and substantially radiolucent electrode or sensor assembly for that universally connects to separate, non-integrated electrodes or sensors for the monitoring of the physiological parameters of a live subject wherein the electrode assembly is comprised of one or more radiolucent electrical connectors for connecting the electrode assembly to the sensors. The present invention also discloses a method of positioning the electrode assembly on a patient whose physiological signs are being monitored such that access to the patient's chest is substantially unimpeded so as not to obstruct the electromagnetic imaging of the patient's chest, the application of defibrillation paddles or surgical procedures that require access to the chest area.