Wearable Defibrillator Electrode Assembly With Local Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable cardiac devices lack effective mechanisms for ensuring proper assembly and positioning of electrodes, leading to potential misplacement and reduced effectiveness in detecting and treating life-threatening arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of local assembly feedback circuitry with sensors and indicators on assemblable elements to verify correct assembly and positioning of electrodes, providing immediate feedback to users through visual, auditory, and tactile alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wearable cardiac devices are used without assembly verification mechanisms, then the device structure remains simple, but electrode misplacement occurs reducing detection and treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through LEDs and buzzers that provide real-time assembly verification signals. Sensors detect electrode placement status and trigger visual (LEDs) and auditory (buzzers) feedback to guide users during assembly, ensuring correct electrode positioning while maintaining simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly verification system operates autonomously using sensors integrated into the garment that automatically detect electrode placement. The system self-verify assembly correctness without requiring external verification tools or complex processing, reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If assembly verification circuitry is added to each assemblable element, then correct assembly can be verified, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wearable cardiac device into separate assemblable elements (electrode belts, patches, garment components) with verification circuitry integrated into each segment. This modular segmentation allows independent manufacturing and verification of each component, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while ensuring assembly correctness
Solution Approach 2:
Assembly verification circuitry and sensors are pre-integrated into each assemblable element during manufacturing. The preliminary incorporation of verification mechanisms eliminates the need for complex post-assembly verification procedures, making the device easier to manufacture while ensuring correct assembly
3Ease of operation
If multiple feedback indicators are provided on each assemblable element, then user understanding of assembly status improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides different feedback indicators (LEDs, buzzers) at specific locations on each assemblable element based on local assembly requirements. Each element receives tailored feedback appropriate to its specific assembly context, improving user understanding without requiring a complex centralized feedback system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical assembly verification mechanisms with simple electronic sensors, LEDs, and buzzers. This substitution maintains ease of operation through clear feedback while significantly reducing device complexity compared to mechanical verification systems
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
Ensures correct assembly and positioning of electrodes, enhancing the device's ability to detect and treat arrhythmias effectively by reducing user frustration and increasing compliance with wearing the device.
Implementation Method 1
The assembly verification sensor includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to sense an RFID tag disposed on the garment
Implementation Method 2
The assembly verification sensor includes a near field communication (NFC) reader configured to sense an NFC tag disposed on the garment
Implementation Method 3
The assembly verification sensor includes a photoelectric sensor configured to sense a color tag disposed on the garment
Implementation Method 4
The assembly verification sensor includes a Hall effect sensor configured to sense a magnet disposed on the garment
Implementation Method 5
The one or more visual indicators include one or more LEDs configured to light up to provide the human-discernable feedback alert
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable cardiac device for providing feedback during device assembly includes a garment configured to be continuously worn and an electrode belt including a plurality of assemblable elements. Each of the assemblable elements is configured for assembly into the garment prior to use of the wearable cardiac device. The plurality of assemblable elements includes electrodes configured to facilitate sensing electrical signals associated with cardiac activity of and/or deliver one or more therapeutic pulses to a patient. At least one of the plurality of assemblable elements includes respective local assembly feedback circuitry. Each respective local assembly feedback circuitry includes an assembly verification sensor configured to sense whether the respective assemblable element is correctly assembled into the garment and local assembly feedback indicator(s) locally disposed on the respective assemblable element and configured to provide a human-discernable feedback alert indicating whether the respective assemblable element is correctly assembled into the garment.