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Sensors Q&A

  •   Is there anything new in the field of electrodes, sensors, etc. for EKG? We are developing a breakthrough set of cardiac disease-detection algorithms using a wearable garment and an on-body computer and communications device. The unit also needs to be MRI compatible, since one of our algorithms extracts a clear EKG signal, eliminating competing magnetoresistance and magnetohydrodynamic signals. The wet/dry electrodes and lead wires are areas of concern for us.

    There have not been many advances in the field of electrodes or sensors for EKG or ECG. However, you can implant flexible sensing bands in a wearable garment to detect any tension in either direction, monitoring changes in the behavior of the patient. The bands are normally provided with four wires for a full Wheatstone bridge configuration and would require 3- to 10-V dc regulated voltage to provide a 5- to 20-mV signal. It is possible to customize a miniaturized wireless sensor, but that would require very costly tooling and setup charges. The flexible sensing band can be specially designed and manufactured to be MRI compatible.

  •   What is Safe Overload?

    Safe overload simply refers to the maximum load, torque, or pressure you can apply to a sensor without damaging the performance of the product. For example, a 100-lb-capacity sensor is designed to measure only 100 lb, but it may have a safe overload of 150%, or 150 lb. If the user exceeds a sensor’s safe overload ranges, there’s a strong likelihood that the sensor could be damaged or that it will not maintain the same sensitivity factor. For certain sensors, an integrated mechanical stop (also referred to as overload stop) has been designed into the sensor to minimize damage in case the sensor is overloaded. This feature offers great advantages, especially in circumstances in which an impact load is placed on the sensor that exceeds its designed measurement capacity.

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