Integrated Animal Sensor for ECG and Pulse Oximetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing physiological monitoring systems for small animals like rodents face challenges due to their small anatomy and high heart rates, leading to inconsistent measurements and potential animal harm from external clips or implanted sensors, and inadequate temperature regulation during anesthesia, which can cause adverse health effects.
Innovation Solution
An integrated sensor assembly with ECG electrodes and pulse oximetry sensors configured to match the animal's shape, providing accurate measurements of heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, while maintaining animal comfort and health through a heated platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external clips or implanted sensors are used for physiological monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but animal health and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ECG electrodes, pulse oximetry sensors, temperature sensing, and heating elements into a single integrated sensor assembly that contacts the animal minimally. This merging of multiple functions into one device reduces the number of separate attachments needed and enables comprehensive physiological monitoring while minimizing animal stress and health impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: ECG monitoring, pulse oximetry, temperature measurement, and active heating. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each measurement, reducing overall animal burden while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
2Temperature
If conventional heating methods (circulating water pad or overhead heat lamp) are used for temperature regulation, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity or electrical interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the sensor assembly, combining temperature regulation with physiological monitoring in a single device. This eliminates the need for separate heating systems (circulating water pads or heat lamps) and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly acts as an intermediary between the animal and the heating function, providing direct contact heating through the same interface used for sensing. This eliminates the need for complex external heating systems and potential electrical interference issues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard ECG and pulse oximetry systems are used, then measurement capability is sufficient for humans, but measurement precision deteriorates for small animals with high heart rates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is specifically designed with local optimizations for small animal monitoring, including electrode spacing and sensor configuration tailored to rodent anatomy and high heart rates. This localized adaptation ensures accurate measurement of high-frequency signals while maintaining system versatility.
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
The system offers reliable and minimally invasive physiological parameter monitoring with reduced impact on the animal, ensuring accurate data collection and temperature regulation, overcoming the limitations of previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
a pulse oximetry sensor configured to match the shape of the animal
Implementation Method 2
maintaining animal comfort and health through a heated platform
Data Source
AI summary
An improved sensor assembly and sensing system for measuring physiologic parameters of a test animal subject. In various embodiments the present subject matter provides an integrated electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode and plethysmographic sensor for measuring ECG and pulse oximetry (SPO2) data from an animal subject. The present sensor assembly and system provide measurements of heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiac activity (including abnormal cardiac activity such as arrythmia, fibrillation, tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, etc.), respiration rate (RespR), correlated (uncalibrated) blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure), and pulse oximetry (SPO2). In various examples, the integrated sensor is configured in the shape of the test subject and to provide an outline of electrodes and pulse oximetry sensors that are configured at a predefined locations to facilitate sensing. The integrated sensor may be adjustably heated. Wired and wireless variations may be employed for all communications between the integrated sensor and a computing device, such as a table, laptop, desktop, smartphone, or other computer or computing system.