Atrial Fibrillation Detection in Electronic Sphygmomanometers

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic sphygmomanometers require multiple blood pressure measurements over an extended period to accurately determine the possibility of atrial fibrillation, which is inconvenient and time-consuming for users.

Innovation Solution

An electronic sphygmomanometer that performs blood pressure measurement once per occasion, using a cuff pressure control unit, pressure detection unit, and blood pressure measurement unit to extract pulse wave signals, calculates pulse wave intervals, and aggregates data from multiple occasions to determine irregular pulse waves, allowing for atrial fibrillation detection within a shorter timeframe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple blood pressure measurements are performed consecutively to accurately determine atrial fibrillation, then measurement reliability is improved, but measurement time and user convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatrial fibrillation detection accuracyVSAvoidtotal measurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement process into multiple independent measurement occasions, where each occasion contains only one blood pressure measurement. Pulse wave interval data from these segmented occasions are then aggregated over time to detect atrial fibrillation, replacing the conventional approach of performing multiple measurements within a single occasion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data collection and aggregation across multiple measurement occasions before making the final atrial fibrillation determination. By accumulating pulse wave interval data from separate occasions and comparing aggregated values against reference ranges, the system achieves reliable detection without requiring extended measurement sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple blood pressure measurements are performed consecutively to accurately determine atrial fibrillation, then measurement reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatrial fibrillation detection accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement process into multiple independent measurement occasions, where each occasion contains only one blood pressure measurement. Pulse wave interval data from these segmented occasions are then aggregated over time to detect atrial fibrillation, replacing the conventional approach of performing multiple measurements within a single occasion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically aggregates pulse wave interval data from multiple measurement occasions and performs atrial fibrillation determination without requiring user intervention. The device self-manages data accumulation, comparison against reference ranges, and detection decision-making, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly inflate cuffs or monitor complex measurement processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If blood pressure measurement is performed only once per occasion to reduce measurement time, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidatrial fibrillation detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple separate measurement occasions by aggregating pulse wave interval values. Although each individual measurement contains limited data, the combination of aggregated values from multiple occasions provides sufficient information for reliable atrial fibrillation detection, achieving both convenience and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data collection and aggregation across multiple measurement occasions before making the final atrial fibrillation determination. By accumulating pulse wave interval data from separate occasions and comparing aggregated values against reference ranges, the system achieves reliable detection without requiring extended measurement sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 accurate detection of atrial fibrillation in a shorter time per measurement occasion, improving user convenience and measurement efficiency while maintaining reliability by aggregating data from multiple occasions.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure detection unit that detects a cuff pressure signal representing the pressure of the cuff in a pressurization process or a depressurization process by the cuff pressure control unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 2

a blood pressure measurement unit that extracts a pulse wave signal representing a pulse wave superimposed on the cuff pressure signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulse wave detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20230309934A1Electronic sphygmomanometer and method for determining atrial fibrillation in an electronic sphygmomanometer

Publication Date: 2023.10.05 OMRON HEALTHCARE CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic sphygmomanometer includes a cuff pressure control unit, a pressure detection unit, and a blood pressure measurement unit that extracts a pulse wave signal and measures blood pressure based on the pulse wave signal. A pulse wave interval calculation unit obtains a data group representing pulse wave intervals based on the pulse wave signal obtained only in one depressurization process for a subject for each one measurement occasion. A determination unit aggregates data groups for three or more measurement occasions to obtain an average value of the pulse wave intervals, and determines whether or not there is a possibility that atrial fibrillation occurred based on whether or not there is data of an irregular pulse wave exceeding an allowable range with respect to the average value.