Soft Bioelectronic Skin Patch for Motion-Stable Stress Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices for monitoring stress levels through galvanic skin response (GSR) suffer from motion artifacts, skin irritation, discomfort, and limited continuous use due to bulky and rigid sensors, making them unsuitable for long-term daily monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A wearable physiological monitoring device featuring a clinical-grade medical film with skin-compatible adhesive, integrated elastomeric membrane, and undulated wires for flexible electronic circuits that sense GSR and temperature, allowing for continuous, wireless, and long-term monitoring without electrolyte gels, with a rechargeable battery for extended use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wired gel-electrodes are attached on fingers or hands to measure GSR, then stress detection capability is improved, but motion artifacts and data loss increase due to frequent disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired mechanical connections with wireless communication technology. The wearable device uses wireless data transmission to send GSR measurements to external devices, eliminating physical wire connections that cause motion artifacts and disconnections, thereby maintaining both measurement precision and data reliability during daily activities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible and stretchable substrate materials for the wearable device structure. These flexible substrates allow the device to conform to body contours and move with the body without disconnection, ensuring continuous data collection while maintaining comfortable wearability during physical activities
2Measurement precision
If rigid sensors and electronics are used in wearable devices, then GSR sensing capability is improved, but comfort and wearability deteriorate due to bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible substrates, elastomeric membranes, and thin-film electronics to create a lightweight, conformable wearable device that closely follows body contours. This flexible construction eliminates the bulkiness of rigid sensors while maintaining physiological metric sensing accuracy through direct skin contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sensor components by using miniaturized electronics and reducing material thickness. This parameter transformation allows the device to maintain adequate sensing capability while significantly improving comfort and wearability for long-term use
3Measurement precision
If electrolyte gels are used in GSR sensors, then electrical conductivity is improved, but skin irritation and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable adhesive electrodes made from biocompatible, skin-friendly materials that do not require electrolyte gels. These single-use electrodes maintain adequate electrical conductivity for GSR measurement while eliminating skin irritation associated with gel-based systems, suitable for short-term wearable monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical interface parameters by using alternative conductive materials and electrode designs that eliminate electrolyte gels. This parameter transformation maintains sufficient electrical conductivity for accurate GSR sensing while removing the harmful irritant effect of gels on the skin
4Reliability
If aggressive fixtures and straps are used to secure wearable devices, then device stability is improved, but discomfort and skin pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible adhesive fixtures and soft straps made from comfortable materials that securely attach the lightweight device without excessive pressure. The flexible construction allows the device to move with the body while maintaining stable contact, eliminating the need for aggressive fixing mechanisms that cause discomfort
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 provides high-quality, motion-artifact-minimized physiological data for real-time stress monitoring during daily activities, enabling effective stress management and intervention assessment over several hours with enhanced comfort and breathability.
Implementation Method 1
Electrodermal activity, which is also referred to as galvanic skin response (GSR), is one of the key indicators that directly evaluate stress arousal and cognitive states by sensing the sympathetic nervous system. GSR sensors can monitor sympathetic activity by detecting variation of the ionic permeability of sweat gland membranes.
Implementation Method 2
a clinical-grade medical film having a top side and an opposite bottom side with a skin-compatible adhesive disposed on the bottom side
Data Source
AI summary
A physiological monitoring device (200) for application to a user's skin (10) employs a clinical-grade medical film (202) with a skin-compatible adhesive (402) disposed on the bottom side (201). Electrodes (420) are disposed on the bottom side (201) and sense a physiological metric from the user's skin (10). An elastomeric membrane (440) is integrated with the top side of the clinical-grade medical film (202). Undulated wires (430) are on an elastomeric membrane. An electronic circuit (204) is disposed on the elastomeric membrane (440) and is electrically coupled to the electrodes (420) via the undulated wires (430). The electronic circuit (204) senses the physiological metric from the electrodes (420), converts the physiological metric to a digital value, and stores the digital value for communication of the digital value to a remote device (210).