Disposable Thoracic Belt with Snap-Button Electrodes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable cardiac event recorders face challenges in maintaining electrode positioning and comfort for extended periods, with high production costs and potential allergic reactions from adhesive electrodes.

Innovation Solution

A cost-effective, disposable thoracic belt design featuring a flexible support strip with repositionable electrodes and snap buttons, using non-allergic silver/silver chloride-based gel pads and biocompatible materials to ensure secure skin contact and minimize signal artifacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive electrodes are used for long-term cardiac recording, then electrode retention is improved, but allergic reactions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode retentionVSAvoidallergic reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable snap buttons with integrated electrodes that are replaced periodically (e.g., every 3 days) rather than using permanent adhesive electrodes. This disposable approach eliminates cumulative allergic reactions while maintaining reliable cardiac signal recording throughout the extended monitoring period of several weeks to months.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If traditional cable-fixed electrodes are used, then recording precision is maintained, but positioning stability deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac signal recordingVSAvoidelectrode positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electrode, snap button mechanism, and positioning features into a single integrated assembly. The snap buttons are positioned on the flexible support strip at predetermined locations that correspond to optimal ECG electrode positions, ensuring both measurement precision and positioning stability throughout extended wear periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible support strip allows the snap button assembly to adapt dynamically to the patient's body contours and movements, maintaining proper electrode positioning on the thorax while accommodating natural body variations during breathing, movement, and sleep cycles over several weeks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If reusable thoracic belts are manufactured, then production cost is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidbelt structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thoracic belt system is segmented into a reusable main belt body and disposable snap button assemblies. This segmentation allows the complex electrode-integrated snap buttons to be pre-manufactured and tested separately, then simply attached to the straightforward belt structure, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling cost-effective production of the complete system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If snap buttons are attached directly to the support strip, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but electrode connection reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidelectrode connection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The snap button assembly utilizes composite construction with a flexible support strip made of biocompatible material combined with metal snap buttons and conductive electrode elements. This composite approach ensures reliable electrical connection and mechanical attachment while maintaining comfort and skin compatibility during extended wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 belt provides reliable, long-term cardiac signal recording with minimal discomfort and reduced risk of allergic reactions, allowing for single-use, low-cost, and easy patient application and removal.

Implementation Method 1

repositionable electrodes in the form of silver/silver chloride-based gel pads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP1842485B1Disposable thoracic belt for collecting physiological signs of heart activity

Publication Date: 2009.06.10 ELA MEDICAL SA

Figure 1~6
Figure 2~11
Figure 7~10

AI summary

The belt has a flexible support band (12) e.g. elastic cotton band, surrounding thorax of a patient and defining an inner side (22) contacting the patient`s body. The band has blue sensor type collection electrodes (34) laterally extended by a flat tab and connected to a spiderflash event recorder. The electrodes have a light adhesive gel and a contact region to establish an electric connection between press-buttons (36) and the electrodes. Each press-button has a ball forming element (42) and a base forming element surrounding the tab and the band by pinching the region against the band.