Adhesive Cardiac Doppler Patch for Continuous Pulse Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting blood flow, such as physical palpitation and traditional Doppler monitors, are unreliable and difficult to use in real-time, especially during emergency situations like cardiac arrest, where quick and continuous monitoring is crucial for effective CPR.
Innovation Solution
A stand-alone continuous cardiac Doppler and acoustic pulse monitoring patch that provides visual and auditory signals, secured to the skin with a peel-away adhesive surface, using ultrasonic waves for Doppler monitoring and sound waves for acoustic monitoring, with integrated electronics and a processor to analyze and indicate the presence, frequency, and strength of blood flow or heartbeat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If physical palpitation is used to detect pulse, then the method is simple and requires no equipment, but it is difficult and subject to substantial error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical palpitation method with an acoustic sensor system that detects blood flow sounds. The acoustic sensor converts acoustic energy from blood flow into electrical signals, providing objective and reliable pulse detection without requiring manual finger placement on arteries.
2Measurement precision
If ECG is used to detect pulse, then electrical emissions from the heart can be detected, but it does not measure the actual flow of blood
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical field detection (ECG) with acoustic field detection. The acoustic sensor directly detects the mechanical sound waves generated by blood flow, providing direct measurement of actual blood flow rather than inferring it from electrical activity.
3Reliability
If traditional Doppler monitor is used, then blood flow can be detected with ultrasonic waves, but the device cannot be secured in place to provide constant real-time information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible adhesive patch as the housing for the acoustic sensor, allowing it to be conformally attached to the patient's skin. This thin-film structure enables the device to move with the patient's body while maintaining continuous contact and monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive patch is self-adhering and requires no external mounting equipment. Once applied to the skin, it automatically secures itself in place, providing continuous monitoring without requiring additional technicians to hold or adjust the device.
4Reliability
If hand-held Doppler monitor is used during CPR, then blood flow information can be obtained, but the movement of the patient makes holding the wand in place extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible adhesive patch conforms to the patient's skin and moves with it during CPR maneuvers. This eliminates the problem of maintaining wand position during patient movement, as the sensor is already integrated with the moving surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensor, adhesive mechanism, and housing into a single integrated patch unit. This merged design eliminates the separate wand and holder components that create operational difficulties during CPR.
5Reliability
If multiple technicians are used to hold the monitor in place, then real-time monitoring is possible, but the complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive patch is self-securing and requires no external support or adjustment by technicians. Once applied, it maintains its position autonomously, eliminating the need for additional personnel to assist with device stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch provides continuous monitoring without interruption or adjustment. The adhesive bond maintains constant contact between the sensor and skin, ensuring uninterrupted detection of blood flow signals throughout the monitoring period.
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
Enables reliable, real-time detection of blood flow or heartbeat without external devices, facilitating timely medical interventions and improving survival rates by providing continuous monitoring during CPR and in dynamic or challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic sensor to detect sounds generated by a subject's blood flow or heartbeat
Implementation Method 2
a transducer to convert the received signals into electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-alone continuous cardiac Doppler or acoustic pulse monitoring patch provides visual and auditory signals that a pulse or heartbeat is detected or not detected in a human subject. The invention is a small patch with a peel-away adhesive surface that is applied to the skin of the subject, preferably near a large artery. For the Doppler monitor, the patch includes a pad formed of a conductive medium to enhance transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves. For the acoustic monitor, the pad has a sound focusing portion that permits entry of sounds and focuses the sounds toward a microphone, and the pad also has a sound insulating portion surround the sound focusing portion. The patch includes an integral power source. The Doppler patch has transmitters and receivers to send and detect reflected ultrasonic waves and a transducer to convert the reflected waves into an electrical signal. The acoustic patch has a microphone to detect the sound of a heartbeat and a transducer to convert the sound energy into an electrical signal. A processor analyzes the Doppler wave signals or the acoustic signals. A light indicates the presence and strength of a pulse detected from the Doppler wave signals or a heartbeat detected by the microphone. A speaker and a vibrator may also to indicate the presence and strength of a pulse or a heartbeat. The Doppler effect of waves reflecting from blood pumped from a heart is used to detect a pulse in the subject. The presence of a pulse or heartbeat is analyzed by the processor to determine the frequency and strength of blood flow or beating of the heart. The processor causes the light, speaker or vibrator to blink, beep or vibrate at a rate to indicate the frequency of rhythmic blood flow or heartbeat.