Sensor Cable Shape Retention for Skin-Conformable Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing a sensor cable to a subject's skin with adhesive tape can cause skin inflammation, especially on sensitive skin, and existing securing devices limit the flexibility in choosing the attachment location due to their predetermined shapes.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cable with a first portion having high flexibility and a second portion with lower flexibility that can be bent and self-retain shape, allowing it to conform to various body shapes without the need for adhesive tape, featuring large-diameter and small-diameter parts for secure attachment and a core line for arbitrary shape retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to secure the cable to the skin, then the cable can be fixed in place, but the skin may become inflamed especially on sensitive skin
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful adhesive component from the securing mechanism and replaces it with a mechanical shape-retaining structure. The cable's own shape memory is utilized to provide fixation without skin contact, eliminating the harmful adhesive-subject interaction while maintaining reliable cable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is designed to secure itself to the body through its inherent shape-retaining properties. The second portion of the cable automatically conforms to and maintains the body contour without requiring external adhesive materials, enabling the cable to perform both signal transmission and self-securing functions.
2Reliability
If a securing device with predetermined shape is used, then the cable can be secured to the body, but the degree of freedom in selecting the attachment location is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cable transitions from a rigid predetermined shape to a dynamic adaptable form. The second portion of the cable can be freely bent and deformed to match various body contours, allowing the attachment location to be dynamically selected based on the subject's anatomy and comfort requirements rather than being constrained by a fixed securing device geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexibility parameter of the cable is varied along its length, with the second portion having lower flexibility to enable shape retention. This parameter change allows the cable to adapt to different body shapes and attachment locations while maintaining secure fixation, providing versatility in placement options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cable has high flexibility throughout, then it can conform to body shapes, but it cannot retain the bent shape for secure attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented into two portions with different flexibility characteristics. The first portion maintains high flexibility for comfort and movement, while the second portion has lower flexibility to retain bent shapes. This segmentation allows the cable to simultaneously achieve body shape conformance and stable attachment without requiring external securing devices.
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
Enhances the flexibility in securing the sensor cable to any desired body location, reducing skin burden and eliminating the need for additional securing devices, while ensuring secure attachment to irregular body surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a second portion having a second flexibility which is lower than the first flexibility, and the second flexibility enables the second portion to be bent and to retain a shape which is in a bent state
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor attached to a living body includes a sensor body that outputs a signal corresponding to biological information, and a cable that is connected to a sensor body and transmits the signal. The cable has a first portion having a first flexibility and a second portion having a second flexibility lower than the first flexibility. The second flexibility enables the second portion to be bent, and is able to retain a shape of the second portion in a bent state.