Transparent Bio-Electrode With Anti-Reflective Structure for Long Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bio-electrodes for wearable medical devices are not transparent, sensitive enough, biocompatible, lightweight, cost-effective, and durable for long-term use on the skin, especially when exposed to water or dry conditions, causing discomfort and reduced signal sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A bio-electrode design featuring a substrate with a moth-eye anti-reflective structure and an electro-conductive layer with narrow electro-conductive wiring, combined with an ion polymer layer, ensuring high transparency, sensitivity, and biocompatibility, while maintaining conductivity and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydrated gel electrode is used for electrocardiogram measurement, then electric conductivity is improved, but the electrode loses function when dry and causes skin discomfort during long-term wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrode from a hydrated gel requiring water to a dry powder form that functions without water. The powder electrode maintains electric conductivity through ionic conduction in the dry state, eliminating the problem of losing function when dry while enabling continuous long-term wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The powder electrode can be easily replaced and disposed of after use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and maintenance procedures required by gel electrodes. This disposable approach ensures consistent performance for each use while reducing skin irritation from reused materials.
2Illumination intensity
If a transparent bio-electrode is developed, then visual comfort is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a white powder material that scatters light to appear opaque from one side but allows light transmission from the other side when viewed against the skin. This optical parameter change achieves visual comfort without requiring complex transparent material synthesis or multi-layer manufacturing processes.
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 bio-electrode maintains high sensitivity and biocompatibility, is lightweight and transparent, and prevents sensitivity loss under wet or dry conditions, ensuring long-term comfort without skin irritation.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate having anti-reflective structure for light on at least one side
Implementation Method 2
converts a change in ion concentration from the skin into an electric signal by a reductive reaction of silver chloride in contact with the hydrophilic gel
Implementation Method 3
a polymer containing a repeating unit having fluorosulfonic acid, fluorosulfonimide, and N-carbonyl-fluorosulfonamide... has a high polarizability and high electric conductivity of an ion released from the skin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a bio-electrode including: a substrate having anti-reflective structure for light on at least one side; and (A) an electro-conductive layer having electro-conductive wiring on the opposite side from the side having the anti-reflective structure of the substrate. This provides: a bio-electrode that allows thin, highly transparent, highly sensitive to biological signals, excellent in biocompatibility, light-weight, manufacturable at low cost, capable of preventing significant reduction in sensitivity to biological signals even when attached on the skin for a long time and when wetted with water or dried, and comfortable without itching, reddening, nor rash of the skin.