Accelerometer-Triggered Sensor Sampling After Exertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices struggle to reliably measure physiological signals during physical activity due to motion artifacts, leading to increased power consumption and reduced battery longevity.
Innovation Solution
Integrate an accelerometer into the device to detect periods of inactivity following physical activity, activating high-resolution sensors during these pauses to collect reliable physiological data while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors operate continuously at high resolution to capture physiological signals during physical activity, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates in periodic cycles, alternating between low-power sleep mode and high-resolution measurement mode. The accelerometer triggers periodic activation of the physiological sensor only during relevant events (activity transitions), allowing the sensor to capture necessary data while remaining in low-power state during prolonged periods, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous measurement precision and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer continuously monitors motion at low power consumption and preliminarily identifies activity transitions before activating the high-resolution physiological sensor. This preliminary detection allows the system to prepare for upcoming measurement events, ensuring measurement precision is maintained only when physiologically relevant, thereby reducing overall power consumption while preserving critical measurement capability
2Use of energy by moving object
If sensors enter low power states during inactivity to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but reliability of capturing exertion-related physiological data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback from the accelerometer to dynamically control sensor activation. When the accelerometer detects activity transitions (entry into or exit from exertion), it provides feedback signals that trigger the physiological sensor to activate from its low-power state. This feedback mechanism ensures the sensor captures diagnostically valuable data during exertion events while maintaining energy efficiency during true rest periods
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer serves as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between power-saving requirements and diagnostic data needs. It continuously monitors motion at minimal power consumption and uses this information to intelligently trigger the high-resolution physiological sensor only when exertion-related data is likely to occur, thus maintaining both power efficiency and diagnostic reliability
3Reliability
If high-resolution sensors are activated continuously to capture physiological signals, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into two functional components: a simple, continuously operating accelerometer for motion detection and a high-resolution physiological sensor activated only when needed. This segmentation allows the complex high-resolution sensor to remain dormant most of the time, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining diagnostic capability during critical exertion events through coordinated operation of the simpler accelerometer trigger
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
Improves diagnostic capabilities by providing reliable physiological data during exertion, reducing power consumption, and extending battery life in implantable or insertable devices.
Implementation Method 1
one or more accelerometers, a sensor configured to monitor a physiological parameter of a patient... receive, from the one or more accelerometers, an accelerometer signal indicative of an amount of movement of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes one or more accelerometers; a sensor configured to monitor a physiological parameter of a patient; a memory; and processing circuitry configured to receive, from the one or more accelerometers, an accelerometer signal indicative of an amount of movement of the patient; determine, based on the accelerometer signal, that the patient is in an active period; determine, based on the accelerometer signal, that the active period has ended; and cause the sensor to transition from a low-power state to a high-power state in response to determining that the active period has ended.