Ambient-Light-Aware Oxygen Saturation Measurement Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices face challenges in efficiently performing parameter measurements while conserving energy, particularly when ambient light and patient motion interfere with data quality, leading to inadequate data that can compromise the monitoring of patient conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a processing circuitry that evaluates ambient light and patient motion levels to determine optimal conditions for performing tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) measurements, thereby reducing energy consumption by limiting unnecessary measurements and ensuring high-quality data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tissue oxygen saturation measurements are performed continuously to improve patient condition monitoring, then monitoring reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the measurement frequency based on real-time ambient light conditions and patient motion levels. When conditions are favorable (low ambient light and low motion), measurements are performed more frequently to improve monitoring reliability. When conditions are unfavorable, measurements are reduced or skipped to conserve energy, thus resolving the contradiction between monitoring reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter (frequency of tissue oxygen saturation measurements) based on environmental conditions. By evaluating ambient light levels and patient motion before each measurement, the system adapts the measurement schedule to optimize both reliability and energy efficiency, performing measurements only when conditions support high-quality data collection.
2Productivity
If tissue oxygen saturation measurements are performed under unfavorable conditions (high ambient light or high patient motion), then measurement frequency is improved, but data quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluations of ambient light levels and patient motion levels before initiating tissue oxygen saturation measurements. This preliminary action allows the system to determine whether conditions are favorable for high-quality measurements, preventing measurements from being taken when data quality would be compromised, thus maintaining both measurement frequency and data quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from ambient light sensors and motion sensors to continuously monitor environmental conditions and adjust measurement decisions accordingly. When feedback indicates unfavorable conditions (high ambient light or high motion), the system reduces or cancels measurements to maintain data quality, resolving the contradiction between measurement frequency and measurement precision.
3Reliability
If unnecessary measurements are performed to maintain continuous monitoring, then monitoring coverage is improved, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter (measurement execution) based on real-time evaluation of ambient light and patient motion conditions. By dynamically adjusting whether measurements are performed based on current conditions, the system maintains monitoring coverage when conditions are favorable while avoiding energy waste from unnecessary measurements when conditions are unfavorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own sensors (ambient light sensor and motion sensor) to evaluate conditions and make autonomous decisions about whether to perform measurements. This self-service approach allows the system to intelligently determine when measurements are necessary, maintaining monitoring coverage while minimizing energy waste without requiring external control.
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
This approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of patient condition monitoring by ensuring that measurements are taken under favorable conditions, reducing energy waste and improving data quality for tracking conditions like heart failure, sleep apnea, or COPD.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor to measure ambient light and a tissue oxygen saturation parameter
Implementation Method 2
an optical sensor configured to measure ambient light and a tissue oxygen saturation parameter
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for performing patient parameter measurements. In some examples, a medical device system includes an optical sensor configured to measure ambient light and a tissue oxygen saturation parameter and processing circuitry configured to determine that a current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter is prompted and control the optical sensor to perform an ambient light measurement associated with the current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the ambient light measurement, at least one of whether to control the optical sensor to perform the current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter, when to control the optical sensor to perform the current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter, or whether to include the current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter in a trend of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter.