Repositionable Medical Sensor with Biasing Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical monitoring sensors, such as pulse oximetry sensors, face challenges in efficient application and reapplication on patients due to adhesive discomfort and loss of adhesive strength over multiple uses. Additionally, these sensors often require redesign to improve comfort, breathability, and effective coupling to the patient despite moisture or other adhesion-blocking factors.
Innovation Solution
A medical sensor design featuring an outer cover that forms a pocket with an adjustable opening, utilizing a biasing member such as a spring or expandable band to adjust the opening dimensions for easy application and reapplication on a patient. This design eliminates the need for strong adhesives, ensuring comfort and effective coupling even in moist conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive is used to attach the sensor to the patient's skin, then the sensor can be securely held in place, but the adhesive causes discomfort and loses strength over multiple applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component entirely from the sensor design. Instead of using adhesive to attach the sensor to the patient's skin, the sensor employs a biasing member that applies mechanical pressure to hold the sensor in place, thereby eliminating adhesive-related discomfort and skin irritation while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical pressure-based system. A biasing member, such as a spring or elastic element, applies continuous mechanical pressure to secure the sensor to the patient's body part, substituting the chemical attachment method with a purely mechanical one that avoids skin irritation.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor is designed with a fixed opening size, then the structure is simple, but the sensor cannot be easily reapplied or adjusted on different patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a biasing member that enables the sensor opening to dynamically adjust its size. The biasing member can be compressed to enlarge the opening for easy application and then automatically returns to its original shape to secure the sensor, providing both ease of operation and adaptability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the biasing member to change the physical parameter of the opening size. By compressing the biasing member, the opening dimension increases to facilitate application; upon release, the biasing member's elastic recovery returns the opening to its original secured dimension, enabling easy reapplication and adjustment.
3Reliability
If strong adhesive is used to ensure sensor coupling, then the sensor stays attached firmly, but the adhesive becomes ineffective in the presence of moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the adhesive substance from the sensor design, removing the vulnerability to moisture interference. The sensor uses a biasing member that applies mechanical pressure to maintain coupling with the patient's skin, a method that remains effective regardless of moisture presence, thereby ensuring reliable sensor attachment in humid or sweaty conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical adhesion system with a mechanical pressure system. The biasing member continuously applies force to press the sensor against the patient's body part, creating a secure mechanical coupling that is not affected by moisture, sweat, or other environmental factors that would compromise adhesive bonding.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor requires frequent removal and reapplication, then monitoring can be adjusted, but adhesive strength diminishes with each use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component that degrades with repeated use. The sensor employs a reusable biasing member mechanism that maintains consistent mechanical pressure across multiple applications, allowing the sensor to be removed and reapplied as needed without degradation in attachment performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is designed to be self-resetting through its elastic or spring properties. After the sensor is removed from the patient, the biasing member automatically returns to its original configuration, ready to provide the same securing force upon reapplication, eliminating the need for adhesive replacement and maintaining consistent performance over multiple uses.
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 sensor can be quickly and efficiently applied and reapplied on patients without adhesive discomfort, maintaining effective coupling and physiological monitoring performance even in the presence of moisture. The design also enhances comfort, breathability, and light blocking, with the option for disposable use.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member coupled to the outer cover, wherein the biasing member adjusts from an initial shape to an adjusted shape to adjust a dimension of the opening
Implementation Method 2
the biasing member adjusts from the adjusted shape to the initial shape to compress the outer cover about the portion of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A medical sensor includes an outer cover that forms a pocket with an opening. The medical sensor also includes one or more electrical components positioned within the outer cover. The medical sensor further includes a biasing member coupled to the outer cover, wherein the biasing member adjusts from an initial shape to an adjusted shape to adjust a dimension of the opening to enable the opening to receive a portion of a patient.