Segmented Respiration Electrodes for Patient-Specific Stimulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with neuromuscular or respiratory disorders experience muscular fatigue and difficulty breathing, exacerbated by extended inactivity or mechanical ventilation, necessitating alternative methods to stimulate respiratory function.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrodes divided into removable portions, each with distinct activation areas, connected via a system that includes a controller, power supply, and memory device, to deliver electrical signals for neuromuscular stimulation, synchronized with breathing patterns to stimulate abdominal muscles during exhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrodes are made as fixed single-piece units, then manufacturing and application are simplified, but adaptability to different patient sizes and treatment requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into a main body and multiple removable portions that can be selectively removed based on patient size and treatment requirements. This segmentation allows the electrode to be customized for different applications while maintaining a standardized base design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode design transitions from a static fixed-size electrode to a dynamic configurable electrode where portions can be removed to change the active stimulation area. This dynamic adaptability allows the same electrode base to serve multiple patient sizes and treatment scenarios without requiring multiple different electrode designs.
2Manufacturing precision
If electrodes are customized for each patient, then treatment precision is improved, but preparation time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-configured with removable portions that can be quickly removed as needed, eliminating the need for custom manufacturing or complex assembly during patient preparation. The preliminary design includes all necessary components in a single electrode unit, allowing rapid customization at the point of care.
Solution Approach 2:
Removable portions are discarded after single-use application, while the main electrode body can be reused for subsequent patients. This approach enables precise customization for each patient without requiring complete electrode replacement, reducing both preparation time and waste.
3Adaptability or versatility
If removable portions are added to electrodes, then adaptability and customization are improved, but reliability of electrical connection and signal delivery may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The removable portions are integrated with the main electrode body through bonding that merges the electrical connections. This combining ensures that electrical signals are reliably transmitted through both the permanent and removable portions as a unified electrode system, maintaining connection reliability while enabling configurability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode, systems, and methods using the same for stimulating a neuromuscular response includes a backing layer, an electrode layer, and a hydrogel layer, and an electrode cable configured to provide an electrical signal to the electrode. The electrode is divided into a first removable portion including a first removable activation area, a second removable portion including a second removable activation area, and a main body including a main activation area, the first removable portion is configured to separate from the second removable portion and the main body by a first perforation, and the second removable portion is configured to separate from the main body by a second perforation.