Patent Application
20200069213
Examples of the present disclosure relate to an electrode apparatus and method for using the same. Some examples, though without prejudice to the foregoing, relate to an apparatus and method for use in biopotential or bioimpedance measurements.
Conventional devices and systems for biopotential or bioimpedance measurements are not always optimal. Their electrodes (which are attached to a user's body part) and connectors for the same may be bulky and may require many free hanging/loose cables which can snag during use such as on a user's clothing. The loose cables can also cause triboelectricity to be generated, which can create unwanted noise in detected signals. Previous devices may not be comfortable during use and may be unsuitable for prolonged use and attachment for an extensive duration. Conventional devices may also be difficult to adapt to differing body part locations and differing sizes of patients.
The listing or discussion of any prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects/examples of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues.
According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrodes; a signal line for conveying electrical signals to or from the plurality of electrodes; wherein the plurality of electrodes and the signal line are integrally formed in the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that a user is able to selectively electrically couple one or more of the plurality of electrodes to the signal line.
According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrodes; means for conveying electrical signals to or from the plurality of electrodes;
The apparatus may be suitable for use in biopotential or bioimpedance measurements.
According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided a module or wearable device comprising the above apparatus.
According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising attaching an apparatus as described above to user's body part; and selectively coupling one or more electrodes to the signal line.
According to at least some examples of the disclosure there are provided embodiments as set out in the appended claims.
For a better understanding of various examples of the present disclosure that are useful for understanding the detailed description and certain embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:
The Figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures may be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the Figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.
The apparatus 100 comprises:
As used herein, the term “electrode” may be used to denote an electrical conductor configured for use with a user's body part for conveying electrical signals to or from the user's body part, such as the user's skin/tissue. It may, for example, be a medical electrode, bioelectrode or biological electrode. The electrodes may be for medical purposes, such as for biopotential or bioimpedance measurements. The electrodes may be suitable for use in electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), impedance cardiography (ICG), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), electrodermal activity (EDA) and galvanic skin response (GSR). In some examples, an electrical signal may be a signal that is detected/picked up by the electrode, e.g. a sensed bioelectrical signal for bio/medical measurements such as those mentioned above. In some examples, an electrical signal may correspond to an electrical impulse/electrical power that is delivered to/applied/injected/imparted to the user's body part, e.g. for therapeutic purposes. The electrode may be integrally formed with the apparatus in that it is structurally integrated into the apparatus so as to be inseparable/non user detachable therefrom.
The signal line 102 may be a conductor, bus or signal wire for conveying electrical signals to or from the plurality of electrodes. The signal line may take the form of a strip-like/band of conducting material or may take the form of a wire. In some examples, in use, the signal line is connected to a signal generator, i.e. to receive electrical signals therefrom for conveying to selected one or more electrodes. In some examples, in use, the signal line is connected to a sensor/measurement device, i.e. for detecting and measuring electrical signals picked up by the selected one or more electrodes. The signal line may be integrally formed with the apparatus in that it is structurally integrated into the apparatus so as to be inseparable/non user detachable therefrom.
The apparatus is configured such that a user is able to selectively electrically couple one or more plurality of electrodes 101 to the signal line 102, as schematically illustrated with reference to arrows 103.
Without limiting the scope of the claims, an advantage/technical effect of some examples of the present disclosure may be to enable the user selection of particular ones of the plurality of electrodes that are to be used, e.g. in biopotential or bioimpedance measurements.
In some examples, such user selection of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes is affected by the removal of one or more conductive elements 203 that, prior to their removal, electrically coupled/connected one or more of the electrodes 101 to the signal line 102. In other examples, the user selection of particular electrodes is achieved by the user application/user attachment of one or more conductive elements to electrically connect and electrically couple one or more of the electrodes 101 to the signal line 102.
As shown in the bottom view of
The lower surface of the carrier 204 may be provided with layer of an adhesive medium for affixing the apparatus 200 to a user's body part, such as the user's skin. In some examples, the exposed lower surfaces of the electrodes 201a-c are not provided with an adhesive layer (which could adversely affect the conductivity of the electrode with the user's body part). In some examples, the exposed lower surfaces of the electrodes 201a-c are provided with a conductive adhesive medium (to facilitate both the affixing of the apparatus to the user's body part as well as enhance the electrical coupling between the electrodes and the user's body part).
The apparatus 200 may take the form of an elongate continuous structure (such as a strip, band or a tape) defining a longitudinal lengthwise direction 205 and a lateral widthwise direction 206.
The plan view of
The conductive elements 203 are configured to be frangible or removable by a user such that their respective electrode can be user selectively electrically decoupled from the signal line 202, such that the respective electrode is electrically isolated from the signal line and thus unable to convey signals to or receive signals from the signal line 202. Such frangible/removable characteristics of the conductive portion 203 may be provided by any appropriate means, not least such as providing a thin foil-like conductive element which may be readily removed, for example by being scraped, torn or scratched off. Alternatively, the conductive element 203 may comprise one or more weakened/brittle/perforated sections to enable the conductive element 203 to be readily broken and removed.
The conductive elements 203 may be made to be frangible or removable for example via perforation or other lines of weakness, or via the use of a relatively weak adhesive that enables the conductive elements 203 to be peelable/detachable from their underlaying substrate.
In the example of
As illustrated by the broken dotted line in
The carrier substrate 204 may, in certain examples, comprise an elastic therapeutic tape having elastomeric properties. In such examples, the signal line 202 and/or the electrodes 201 may likewise themselves be configured to have elastomeric properties so as to enable their expansion and contraction along with the expansion and contraction of the elastomeric carrier substrate 204.
Advantageously, the provision of the apparatus in a tape-like form (e.g. wherein the apparatus is comprised in an elongate flexible structure, carrier or multilayer structure having adhesive on its lower side for attachment to a user's body part) may enable not only adjustable electrode positioning following attachment to a user (e.g. by the subsequent user selection of a particular electrode) but also may enable the user selective adjustment of electrode separation distance (e.g. by selecting a particular further electrode, particularly with regards to examples having two signal lines as per
The apparatus may be provided in a module. As used here ‘module’ refers to a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts/components that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user. For example, the actual measurement device that generates and/or receives signals from the apparatus (e.g. so as to determine biopotential or bioimpedance measurements) may be separately provided and separately attached to the apparatus, for example by an electrical connection/interface with the signal line).
The apparatus may comprise means for affixing the apparatus to a part of the user's body. Such means may comprise use of an adhesive, or by the apparatus being part of a band, strap or bandage that may be wrapped around and secured to a part of a user's body which may involve the use of fasteners such as hook and links or other types of fasteners. This may minimise movement artefacts during signal measurements by preventing relative movement between the electrodes and the user's body part, e.g. tissue.
In the apparatus 300, the one or more conductive elements 303a, 303b, 303c are disposed on or affixed to the substrate 308, wherein the substrate itself is configured to be removable or frangible (e.g. via a structural weakness, such as perforations or use of a weak adhesive), such that the removal of the substrate (or one or more parts thereof) removes/breaks the overlaying one or more conductive elements 303, thereby electrically decoupling and de-selecting the associated electrodes 301 from the signal line 202. The substrate 308 may be made of a non-conductive material and be configured to be resistant/resilient to tear in a longitudinal direction and may, in some examples, be susceptible to tear in a lateral direction, i.e. so to facilitate its separation into separable parts. For example, with regards to
In the example of
In the examples described thus far, the conductive elements comprise one or more conductive strips extending in a widthwise direction to electrically connect a single electrode to the signal line. In some examples, a conductive element electrically connects a plurality of electrodes to the signal line. In some examples, such as shown in
Each longitudinally/lengthwise extending strip 403a, 403b, may electrically couple a plurality (or all) of the electrodes 201 to the signal line 202. Each longitudinally/lengthwise extending strip may extend substantially along the entirety of the length of the apparatus 400.
Alternatively, a single conductive element may be provided that electrically connects the electrode 501 to each of the signal lines 5021 and 5022. Such a single conductive element may be configured to be frangible/removable at least in two sections so as to enable the breaking/removal of two sections of the conductive element to electrically decouple the electrode 501a from each of the signal lines 5021 and 5022.
In addition to the tear-off strips 5081 and 5082 for selecting particular electrodes, further removable strips 5091 and 5092 are provided that overlay the signal lines 5021 and 5022 respectively. The removable portions 5091 and 5092 may be removed so as to reveal and expose an underlying portion of the signal line, for example as shown with respect to
The apparatus 500 of
In certain other examples, the apparatus may comprise yet further additional lines, such as three or more signal lines, and yet further conductive elements for electrically coupling each of the electrodes to the further signal lines. It is to be appreciated that additional non-conductive layers or portions may be provided so as to electrically isolate conductive elements and signal lines from one another, such as is necessary for a particular conductive element to overlay a signal line but without making an electrical connection to the same.
In the multilayer structure shown in
The plurality of electrodes may be disposed in or on a lower outer surface of the substrate 504, which may be a flexible substrate, forming a first layer. The signal line may be disposed on an upper surface of the first layer so as to form a second layer. The one or more conductive elements may likewise be disposed on the second layer, for example intractably formed with the signal lines, albeit configured so as to be frangible/removable therefrom to electrically decouple the electrodes from the signal lines. Alternatively, the conductive elements may form a third layer disposed over the second layer. One or more strips of non-conductive material may also be provided in the various layers, so as to provide appropriate insulation and electrical isolation, as well as forming tearable strips for facilitating the removal of the conductive elements (discussed with respect to
The apparatus may be integrated to bandage or therapeutic tape, for example so as to enable monitoring of muscle activity (EMG) in a particular area. The apparatus may be provided with a layer of adhesive on its upper surface so as to enable the attachment of measurement electronics/circuitry to the apparatus. Where a conductive connection is desirable, such as to electrically connect a terminal/connector of the measurement electronics to a signal line, a conductive adhesive material may be used.
Various examples of the apparatus may provide improved user comfort during use and enable prolonged use as the apparatus has a substantially flat form factor and may be adhered to a user's skin (rather than needing to be tightly strapped thereto) via an adhesive that is configured to be skin friendly (i.e. enables easy removal of the apparatus from the user's skin). Yet further, the apparatus may provide a larger surface area in contact with the user's skin than would be provided by separate independent electrodes that are separately attached to a user's skin (and for each of which separate free-hanging/loose cables are required to provide separate individual signal lines for each separate electrode to the remote signal generating/monitoring circuitry).
The apparatus 600 comprises a multielectrode tape (a section of length thereof which is shown in the figures) wherein a lower surface of a carrier 604 comprises a plurality of electrodes 601. The electrodes have a lower exposed outer surface configured for contacting with a user's skin and an upper surface which passes through the carrier substrate 604 such that the upper surface of the electrode is exposed on an upper surface of the carrier substrate 604. Along a longitudinal length of the apparatus two signal lines are provided 6021 and 6022. The two signal lines are configured as two parallel rails between which are the upper surfaces of the electrode. Electrical connection between each electrode and each of the rails may be provided by one or more conductive elements.
Alternatively, an electrode may be coupled to the two signal lines by two conductive elements 603b1 and 603b2, each of which electrically connects the electrode to a single signal line, i.e. conductive element 603b1 electrically connects an electrode to signal line 6021 and conductive element 603b2 electrically connects the electrode to signal line 6022. Again, frangible/removable sections may be provided to each of the conductive elements, namely sections 603b1′ and 603b2′ respectively, so as to enable the selective electrically decoupling of the electrode from each of the signal lines 6011 and 6022.
Alternative types of conductive elements 603c1 and 603c2 may be provided which are narrower than conductive elements 603b1 and 603b2. Such narrow conductive elements may enable the end portions of the respective conductive elements to extend past one another on the upper surface of the electrode (as compared to conductive elements 603b1 and 603b2 whose end portions can merely proximately abut one another).
In block 701, an apparatus as described above (e.g. with respect to any of apparatuses 100, 200, 3000, 400, 500 and 600) is attached to a user's body part. In block 702 one or more of the electrodes are selectively coupled to the signal line.
Such selective coupling of the one or more electrodes to the signal line may comprise, as shown in block 702a, selective user removal of one or more conductive elements, or, as shown in block 702b, the selective user application of one or more conductive elements.
The flowchart of
In certain examples one or more blocks may be performed in a different order or overlapping in time, in series or in parallel. One or more blocks may be omitted or added or changed in some combination of ways. For example, the selective coupling of one or more electrodes to the signal line may involve both the selective removal of certain conductive elements as well as the selective application of other conductive elements.
Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not.
Although various examples of the present disclosure have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims. For example it will be readily apparent that different shapes and dimensions of the various components may be provided. For example, whilst generally circular electrodes have been shown, electrodes of other shapes may be provided. Likewise, whilst generally elongate rectilinear strip/band-like sections of signal lines have been shown, alternative shape and dimensions of signal lines may be provided. Whilst the electrodes have been shown passing through a lower substrate/carrier of the apparatus, the electrode may be provided on a lower surface of the lower substrate/carrier and an electrical via may be used that passes through the lower substrate/carrier to the upper surface thereof to enable electrical connection to a conductive element for electrically connecting the electrode to or from a signal line. Whilst apparatuses for a one lead measurement (i.e. with two selected electrodes, one selectively coupled to a first signal line and another electrode selectively coupled to a second different signal line) have been described, it is to be appreciated that the apparatus could be implemented in multi-lead configurations, for example a grounded three electrode and multi-lead configurations may be provided by the addition of further signal lines. Insulating material can be provided when conductive elements cross a signal line.
In certain examples, three electrode/three lead functionality for a measuring device may be provided by using a two signal line apparatus by: attaching a first terminal/connector of the measuring device to the first signal line (the first signal line being electrically coupled to at least a first electrode), attaching a second terminal/connector of the measuring device to the second signal line (the second signal line being electrically coupled to at least a second electrode), and attaching a third terminal/connector of the measuring device to another electrode.
Various of the examples discussed above show only a single electrode being selected for connection to a signal line. It is to be appreciated that the apparatus may enable two or more of the electrodes to be connected to the same signal in use, thus providing, in effect, a larger electrode area for the measurement. The two or more selected electrodes could be any individual electrodes of the array (i.e. they need not necessarily be adjacent/neighbouring electrodes in the array).
The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to “comprising only one . . . ” or by using “consisting”.
In this description, the wording ‘connect’, ‘couple’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected/coupled/in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist, e.g. electrolytes and/or adhesive materials where appropriate, (including no intervening components).
In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’ or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class.
In this description, references to “a/an/the” [feature, element, component, means . . . ] are to be interpreted as “at least one” [feature, element, component, means . . . ] unless explicitly stated otherwise.
The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of examples of the present disclosure believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.
The examples of the present disclosure and the accompanying claims may be suitably combined in any manner apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16207321.7 | Dec 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FI2017/050936 | 12/27/2017 | WO | 00 |
