Disposable Sensor Adaptor with Gas Permeable Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable sensor heads for transcutaneous CO2/O2 measurements require elaborate cleaning after use, leading to high service needs and costs, and existing adhesive adaptors are inefficient for handling and extend the shelf-life and life-time of sensor parts.
Innovation Solution
A device with a gas-permeable membrane separates the sensor head from direct contact with the skin, creating a controlled applicator volume for gas diffusion measurements, reducing contamination and facilitating cleaning, and includes a sealing interface to prevent ambient light interference, with a rotatable sensor head and adhesive application for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reusable sensor head is directly applied to the skin using adhesive adaptors, then the sensor can be fixed to the measuring site, but the sensor head becomes heavily contaminated requiring elaborate cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the sensor system into two separate parts: a reusable sensor head and a disposable application device. The application device includes an adhesive layer and contact fluid that are discarded after use, while the sensor head remains clean and reusable. This segmentation eliminates the need to clean the sensor head after each use.
Solution Approach 2:
The application device is designed as a disposable component with adhesive and contact fluid that is discarded after a single use. This allows the expensive reusable sensor head to remain clean and free from contamination, eliminating elaborate cleaning requirements while maintaining measurement capability.
2Ease of operation
If adhesive adaptors are used to fix the sensor to the skin, then the sensor can be attached to the measurement site, but service needs and costs increase due to elaborate cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the adhesive attachment function into a disposable application device that is discarded after use. This allows easy sensor attachment during the procedure while eliminating time-consuming cleaning services afterward, thereby improving service efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the adhesive adaptor and contact fluid disposable, the system eliminates the need for elaborate cleaning services. The low-cost single-use application device replaces the high-maintenance reusable adhesive system, improving service productivity.
3Ease of operation
If contact fluid is applied directly to the sensor head or skin, then the sensor can be applied to the measurement site, but the sensor head requires elaborate cleaning after use
Solution Approach 1:
The contact fluid is applied to the disposable application device rather than directly to the reusable sensor head. This segmentation ensures the sensor head remains clean and free from contact fluid contamination, maintaining its reliability for repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The application device with contact fluid is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after single use. This prevents contact fluid contamination of the reusable sensor head, maintaining sensor cleanliness and reliability without requiring elaborate cleaning.
4Productivity
If the sensor head is reused multiple times, then costs are reduced, but cleaning time and service training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the reusable sensor head from the disposable application device. This allows the sensor head to be reused multiple times without contamination, eliminating cleaning time while maintaining cost efficiency through sensor head reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing expensive cleaning processes with inexpensive disposable application devices, the system maintains cost efficiency through sensor head reuse while eliminating time loss to cleaning. The disposable components are cheap enough that their single-use cost is less than the time and resource cost of cleaning.
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 device reduces sensor head contamination and cleaning complexity, extends the shelf-life and life-time of sensor parts, and provides accurate optical measurements by minimizing environmental influences on the sensor, enhancing handling efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
At least one gas permeable membrane separates the applicator volume into a first volume being directed to the measuring site at the patient's side of the wall arrangement and a second volume being separated from the patient's skin and directed to the sensor side of the wall arrangement
Implementation Method 2
The application area comprises an adhesive, which is compatible with the human skin
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for application of a sensor to a measurement site, said device comprising at least one application area (2) enabling the application of the device to a patient's skin (3) is provided. The device comprises an interface (4) for connecting the device to a sensor head, wherein the device has at least a wall arrangement (5) defining an applicator volume above the patient's skin. The wall arrangement comprises a patient's side and a sensor side. At least one gas-permeable membrane (6) separates the applicator volume into a first volume (7) being directed to the measuring site at the patient's side of the wall arrangement (5) and a second volume (8) being separated from the patient's skin and directed to the sensor side of the wall arrangement (5).