Textile Electrode Structure for Stable Skin Contact During Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Smart textile systems face challenges in maintaining stable conductive paths and reliable skin contact, especially during wear and tear, motion, and repeated washing, while ensuring efficient manufacturing and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A textile electrode with a thermoplastic layer featuring closed air-filled cavities and protruding portions for shape retention and flexible skin contact, combined with a textile layer for durability and a conductive layer for signal sensing, utilizing thermoforming and lamination processes for efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If soft electrodes are used to adapt to skin shape and provide comfort, then comfort and adaptability are improved, but contact stability deteriorates when the wearer is in motion
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is segmented into multiple protruding portions rather than a continuous soft surface. Each protruding portion independently contacts the skin, allowing the electrode to adapt to skin contours while maintaining stable contact points during motion. The conductive elements are also segmented and positioned on the protruding portions to ensure continuous skin contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates protruding portions with curved surfaces that naturally conform to the skin's contour. This curvature allows the electrode to adapt to the skin shape while the protruding geometry maintains stable contact points even during wearer motion, resolving the contradiction between soft adaptability and contact stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrode material is made soft for skin adaptation, then comfort is improved, but the electrode loses contact stability during motion
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into a flexible base layer and multiple protruding portions. The base layer provides softness for skin adaptation, while the protruding portions maintain stable contact points. This segmentation allows the electrode to be both adaptive to skin shape and stable during motion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the electrode have different mechanical properties. The base layer is soft and flexible for skin adaptation, while the protruding portions are more rigid to maintain contact stability. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between softness and stability.
3Reliability
If the electrode structure is made complex to maintain stability and comfort, then reliability and comfort are improved, but manufacturing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode integrates multiple functions into a single structure: the protruding portions simultaneously provide mechanical stability, skin adaptation, and serve as the substrate for conductive elements. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining reliability and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portions serve multiple functions: they provide structural stability, adapt to skin contours, and support the conductive elements for signal acquisition. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining measurement stability and comfort.
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 electrode maintains stable skin contact and durability, providing reliable signal sensing even during motion and washing, with a comfortable and efficient manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
The air-filled cavities of the thermoplastic layer provide the electrode with a shape-retaining property. After pressing the electrode, the electrode may temporarily deform as the air inside the cavities is compressed. After a pressing force is released, the electrode retakes its original shape due to the trapped air, which then re-expands.
Implementation Method 2
The thermoplastic layer is made up of solid, thermoplastic material that traps air in the cavities. The protruding portions protrude outwardly from the cavities towards the inner side of the electrode. As such, the shape of the protruding portions corresponds to the shape of the cavities.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A textile electrode (1, 2, 3) having an inner side (110, 210, 310) for contacting a skin surface (111, 211, 311) and an outer side (120, 220, 320) for bordering with an environment, the textile electrode comprising a thermoplastic layer (130, 230, 330) comprising a plurality of closed, air-filled cavities (135, 235, 335) delineating protruding portions (136, 236, 336) on the inner side of the electrode for contacting the skin surface; and a textile layer (140, 240, 340) laminated to the thermoplastic layer towards the outer side of the textile electrode.