Textile Electrode Units with Replaceable Linings for Pressure Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode devices for electrical stimulation and data acquisition suffer from issues such as brittle conductive polymers, high cytotoxicity, poor cleaning capabilities, complex pressure systems, and inability to individually adjust contact pressure, leading to discomfort and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with interchangeable lining parts of varying thicknesses and hardness, integrated into a textile structure, allowing for adjustable contact pressure and easy cleaning, without inflatable actuators, and featuring a stable electrode unit design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conductive polymers are used for electrodes in the suit, then the electrodes can be integrated into the textile structure, but the polymers become brittle with intensive use and the electrodes are no longer functional
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into replaceable individual electrodes that can be independently exchanged when one becomes brittle or malfunctioning, rather than having the entire electrode array fail together. This allows partial replacement and maintains system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the electrodes are changed by using metal conductors instead of conductive polymers, fundamentally altering the degradation characteristics from brittleness to durability while maintaining electrical conductivity and textile integration capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pressure bodies are permanently attached to the suit for electrode positioning, then the electrode positions can be maintained, but the pressure pods dry poorly during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure positioning system is segmented into removable individual elements that can be separated from the main garment for independent cleaning, allowing the garment to be washed thoroughly while the pressure elements can be cleaned separately or replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure bodies transition from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable and reattachable configuration, allowing flexibility in cleaning routines while maintaining electrode positioning stability during use through magnetic or mechanical reattachment mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If inflatable pressure bodies or actuators are used for each electrode arrangement, then individual contact pressure adjustment is possible, but the device complexity and cost significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual pressure adjustment mechanisms are merged into a single centralized air cushion that can provide distributed pressure support across multiple electrode positions simultaneously, reducing the total number of independent actuators from many to one while maintaining individual adjustability through a single control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
A single air cushion serves multiple functions by providing pressure support and positioning for multiple electrode arrangements simultaneously, rather than requiring separate dedicated pressure bodies for each electrode, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Device complexity
If a foam cushion is used to support multiple electrodes, then the structure is simple, but individual adjustment of contact pressure for each electrode is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The single foam cushion is segmented into multiple independent adjustable air cushions, each capable of independent pressure control, allowing individual electrode pressure adjustment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure without requiring complex mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical foam cushion structure is replaced with a pneumatic system using air cushions that can be independently inflated or deflated through electronic control, enabling individual pressure adjustment without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms for each electrode position.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device with at least one electrode unit for electrical stimulation or data acquisition of diagnostic devices, wherein the device is made of a textile material, wherein the device is made of at least two layers, wherein the at least one electrode unit is arranged in or on a first layer and a second layer is arranged on the first layer in such a way that the first and the second layer form at least one pocket, and wherein at least one lining part is arranged replaceably in the pocket.