Textile Sensor with Protruding Detecting Portion for Low Contact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomedical sensors for measuring physiological electric signals face challenges in achieving reliable and comfortable contact with the skin, particularly in maintaining low contact resistance and signal quality, especially when worn for extended periods or during physical activities.
Innovation Solution
A textile-based sensor with a three-dimensional structure, comprising a detecting portion and a peripheral portion, where the detecting portion protrudes due to a filler material within a cavity, and is connected via conductive threads that remain enclosed in the non-conductive peripheral area, ensuring effective skin contact and signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flat textile electrode is used, then the device is simple and comfortable to wear, but the contact resistance with skin is high and signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat electrode to a three-dimensional structure by creating a cavity between upper and lower textile layers that is filled with conductive material. This vertical dimensionality change allows the electrode to protrude from the garment surface, improving skin contact and signal quality without compromising wearability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode combines multiple materials with different properties: textile layers for comfort and flexibility, conductive threads for electrical connection, and conductive gel or paste within the cavity for enhanced skin contact and low contact resistance. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between simplicity and performance.
2Reliability
If the electrode is made thicker to improve skin contact, then contact resistance decreases, but the comfort and flexibility of the garment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into distinct functional layers: upper textile layer, cavity with conductive filling material, lower textile layer, and peripheral non-conductive portion. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall flexibility and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive properties are localized to specific regions: the cavity is filled with conductive material only where skin contact is needed, while the peripheral portions remain non-conductive for comfort. The conducting threads are positioned strategically to provide electrical connection without compromising flexibility elsewhere in the garment.
3Ease of manufacture
If conductive threads are exposed on the peripheral portion, then electrical connection is simplified, but skin contact and signal quality in the detecting area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conducting threads are extracted from the peripheral portion and routed through designated pathways to connection points, separating the electrical connection function from the skin contact function. This allows the detecting area to maintain optimal skin contact while electrical connections are established through dedicated thread pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The conducting threads act as intermediaries that transmit electrical signals from the skin contact area through the textile structure to external connection points. They are enclosed within the textile layers in the detecting area to maintain skin contact, then exposed at peripheral connection points for electrical attachment.
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 solution enhances the adherence and signal quality by maintaining consistent contact and reducing resistance, allowing for efficient monitoring of physiological signals like ECG, while being comfortable and durable for extended wear.
Implementation Method 1
the detecting portion protrudes due to a filler material within a cavity
Implementation Method 2
connected via conductive threads that remain enclosed in the non-conductive peripheral area, ensuring effective skin contact and signal transmission
Implementation Method 3
maintaining consistent contact and reducing resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor for measuring physiological electric signals, including: a textile electrode including a detecting portion having an electrically conductive detecting surface area; a peripheral textile portion; a first electrical connection electrically connected to an acquisition and processing device, and an electrical connection that electrically connects the textile electrode to the electrical connector, the electrode having a three-dimensional textile structure made by interweaving warp threads and weft threads, the detecting portion including an upper textile layer and a lower textile layer, arranged below the upper layer and joined to the latter along a perimeter joining line so as to create a cavity defined by the joining line and to define a region outside the joining line that includes the peripheral textile portion, the cavity being filled by a filler material so that the detecting textile portion protrudes in height with respect to the peripheral textile portion.