Wearable Device Disposable Patch Conductive Adhesive Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable medical devices face challenges in creating reliable electrical connections between internal electronics and the body while maintaining a simple and user-friendly design, particularly for disposable adhesive patches.
Innovation Solution
A medical device design featuring a housing with sensor connections, a flexible patch with sensing elements, and an adhesive assembly that electrically couples sensor connections to sensing elements, allowing for physiological monitoring and easy adhesion to the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a disposable adhesive patch is used to affix external medical devices, then the device becomes smaller and easier to use, but creating reliable electrical connections between internal electronics and the subject's body becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a reusable housing portion containing electronics and a disposable patch portion with sensing elements. This segmentation allows the complex electrical connection system to be contained in the reusable housing while the disposable patch focuses on simple adhesive attachment and sensing, resolving the contradiction between ease of use and electrical connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible circuit assembly acts as an intermediary between the housing sensor connections and the patch sensing elements. This flexible circuit provides reliable electrical coupling while accommodating the mechanical flexibility needed for comfortable wear, thus maintaining both ease of use and electrical connection reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the disposable patch design is kept simple, then it becomes easier to manufacture and use, but creating good mechanical connections between functional portions and the adhesive patch becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive assembly merges mechanical attachment and electrical connection functions into a single integrated component. The adhesive bonds the patch to the housing while simultaneously providing electrical pathways through conductive elements, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and strong mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive assembly uses composite materials combining adhesive properties with electrical conductivity. This allows the same material to provide both mechanical bonding strength and electrical connection, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable mechanical and electrical coupling.
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 provides reliable electrical connections for physiological monitoring while maintaining a simple and user-friendly design for disposable adhesive patches, enhancing the functionality and usability of wearable medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive assembly configured to be disposed between the first portion and second portion to removeably couple the first portion to the second portion
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device configured to be adhesively coupled to an external surface of a subject, and to facilitate physiological monitoring of the subject, includes: a first portion having a housing that at least partially encloses an interior chamber and has a grip portion that has a peanut-like shape; and a second portion including a flexible patch configured to facilitate operably coupling the first portion to the subject. The flexible patch includes third and fourth sensor connections configured to operably interface with the first and second sensor connections, respectively; first and second sensing elements; and a flexible circuit assembly configured to electrically couple the third sensor connection to the first sensing element and the fourth sensor connection to the second sensing element. An adhesive assembly is configured to couple the first portion to the second portion, and includes conductive adhesive portions.