Printed Tattoo Electrode With Magnetic Bridge for Motion Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laryngeal pacemaker systems face challenges in establishing a stable, reliable, and non-invasive electrical connection with external devices due to mechanical mismatch between materials of different thickness and Young's moduli, leading to fragile interfaces and motion artifacts, particularly in tattoo electrodes used for respiratory signal monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode sensor with a decal transfer paper substrate, electrode contacts, stretchable connector tracks, and an interconnection unit that includes a stiff magnetic contact component and varying stiffness bridge to distribute mechanical stresses, allowing magnetic attachment to an external device while minimizing motion artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tattoo electrode sensor is used for respiratory signal monitoring, then non-invasive electrical connection is achieved, but mechanical mismatch between materials of different thickness and Young's moduli leads to fragile interfaces and motion artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interconnection unit with a magnetic attachment mechanism as an intermediary between the tattoo electrode sensor and external devices. This magnetic interface acts as a mediator that provides stable mechanical coupling without requiring invasive procedures, thereby maintaining non-invasive operation while improving interface stability and reducing motion artifacts through secure magnetic bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures in the interconnection unit, combining magnetic materials, flexible substrates, and conductive elements with different mechanical properties. This composite approach allows the integration of materials with varying thickness and Young's moduli while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the mechanical mismatch issue through material composition rather than uniform material selection.
2Reliability
If rigid electrical contacts are used for stable connection, then electrical reliability is improved, but mechanical stress concentration occurs at the interface between different thickness materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing rigid electrical contacts only at specific localized positions where stable electrical connection is required, while the surrounding interconnection structure uses flexible materials to distribute mechanical stresses. This localized rigidity approach maintains electrical reliability at contact points without concentrating mechanical stress throughout the entire interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates flexible thin film structures in the interconnection unit that can accommodate mechanical deformation and stress distribution. These flexible films serve as stress-relief layers between rigid electrical contacts and the tattoo electrode substrate, preventing stress concentration while maintaining adequate electrical connection stability.
3Ease of operation
If the electrode sensor is made flexible for skin transferability, then ease of application is improved, but mechanical mismatch with external devices occurs due to different Young's moduli
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mechanical properties in the interconnection unit, allowing the structure to adapt its stiffness characteristics based on operational conditions. The interconnection unit can transition between flexible states (for skin application) and more rigid states (for stable external device connection), providing mechanical compatibility across different operational phases through dynamic structural adjustment.
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
Enables stable and reliable electrical communication between the tattoo electrode and external devices, reducing motion artifacts and ensuring long-term bio-signal acquisition with minimal skin irritation, suitable for real-time respiratory monitoring in laryngeal pacemakers.
Implementation Method 1
a stiff magnetic contact component with one or more attachment magnets that is configured to magnetically attach the electrode sensor to an external device
Implementation Method 2
Stretchable connector tracks also are located on the transfer paper and are configured to conduct electrical signals from the one or more electrode contacts to corresponding output interface contacts
Data Source
Figure 1A
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Figure 2
AI summary
A printed tattoo electrode includes an interconnection unit with a stiff magnetic contact component including one or more attachment magnets configured to magnetically attach the electrode sensor to an external device. A stiff electrical contact component is electrically connected to output interface contacts for coupling electrical signals to the external device. And at least one bridge component is configured to mechanically connect the electrical contact component and the magnetic contact component to the output interface contacts. The bridge component is characterized by a connecting length with gradually varying stiffness so as to distribute mechanical stresses between the electrode sensor and the external device and avoid motion artifacts in the electrical signals.