Patient Worn Sensor Stabilizing Sheet for Signal Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient monitoring systems face challenges in maintaining signal quality, reducing noise, and ensuring patient comfort due to electrode movement and interference from skin moisture and air bubbles during the collection of vital signs.
Innovation Solution
The patient-worn sensor system incorporates an electrode assembly with an elastic layer, hydrogels, and a stabilizing sheet that restricts electrode movement along the X and Y axes while allowing flexibility in the Z axis, and forms air pockets around hydrogels to collect air bubbles and sweat, thereby maintaining consistent skin contact and reducing signal noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrodes are directly adhered to the patient's skin, then electrical contact is established for signal detection, but electrode movement and interference from skin moisture and air bubbles degrade signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
A stabilizing sheet is introduced as an intermediary layer between the electrode and the patient's skin. This sheet restricts electrode movement and manages skin moisture and air bubbles, thereby improving signal quality without compromising electrical contact
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing sheet is implemented as a thin, flexible film that conforms to the patient's skin surface while maintaining electrode stability. This thin film structure allows it to manage moisture and air bubbles effectively without interfering with the electrical signal transmission
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrode assembly is made rigid to prevent movement, then signal stability improves, but patient comfort and adaptability to skin contours decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing sheet provides localized stability at the electrode-skin interface while the rest of the electrode assembly remains flexible. This local stabilization approach maintains overall system flexibility and patient comfort while ensuring electrode position stability where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing sheet dynamically adapts to the patient's skin contours and movement while maintaining electrode restraint. This dynamic behavior allows the system to transition between stability and flexibility as needed during patient movement
3Reliability
If adhesive strength is increased to improve adhesion, then electrode attachment reliability improves, but patient comfort and skin irritation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing sheet acts as a mediator between the adhesive electrode and the patient's skin, distributing the adhesive force over a larger area and reducing concentrated stress points that cause skin irritation while maintaining reliable attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing sheet modifies the effective adhesion parameters by distributing contact pressure and improving moisture management, thereby maintaining reliable adhesion at lower adhesive strengths that are less irritating to the skin
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
This configuration enhances signal quality, increases patient comfort, and extends the lifespan of the electrode pad by minimizing interference from skin moisture and movement, leading to more reliable and accurate vital sign monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a stabilizing sheet positioned between at least a portion of each electrode and the elastic layer, the stabilizing sheet configured to restrict movement of the plurality of electrodes relative to each other along the direction of the X-axis and the direction of the Y-axis
Implementation Method 2
an air pocket at least partially surrounding the gel contact is formed, the air pocket being at least partially defined by the gel contact, the elastic layer, and the patient's skin
Data Source
AI summary
A patient worn sensor assembly for detecting, recording, and communicating patient vital signs includes several structural features that can provide increased signal quality, reduction in signal noise, increased patient comfort, increased reliability, and increased adhesion to a patient's skin. The patient worn sensor can track vital sign information such as blood pressure, body temperature, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, heart rhythm (via ECG), heart rate, blood glucose level, and hydration (bio-impedance) levels. The sensor can also track and record additional information about patients, including patient movement, activity, and sleep patterns.