Biometric Measuring System SQUID Sensor Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomagnetic field measuring systems face challenges in accurately measuring neural activities due to the decrease in magnetic field signal strength with distance from the stimulus application site, making it difficult to induce and measure desired neural activities effectively.
Innovation Solution
A biometric information measuring system that includes a nerve stimulating apparatus and a magnetic field measuring device, utilizing a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor array and a data processing device to set the timings of electrical stimuli applied to multiple electrodes, ensuring simultaneous nerve activity transmission and increasing the strength of the magnetic field measured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical stimuli are applied from multiple electrodes attached to close positions on the body surface, then the coverage of neural activities is improved, but the magnetic field signal strength decreases due to temporal dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of latency for each electrode before the actual measurement. Based on these preliminary results, it calculates and sets appropriate stimulus generation timings in advance, so that when multiple electrodes are used simultaneously, their neural activities arrive at the measurement position at the same time, preventing temporal dispersion and maximizing magnetic field signal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the stimulus generation timing for each electrode based on individually measured latency values. Rather than using fixed or uniform timing, the timing is optimized for each electrode configuration, allowing the system to adapt to different electrode positions and distances from the measurement location, thereby maintaining signal strength across multiple electrode configurations.
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between stimulus application site and measurement site increases, then the measurement coverage is improved, but the magnetic field signal strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary latency measurement for each electrode position before actual measurement. This preliminary data is used to calculate optimal stimulus timing that compensates for distance variations, ensuring that even when electrodes are positioned farther from the measurement site to expand coverage, the signal strength is maintained through synchronized arrival of neural activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter of stimulus generation based on measured latency values. By adjusting this parameter dynamically according to electrode position and distance, the system maintains optimal signal strength regardless of the distance between stimulus application and measurement sites, thereby enabling expanded measurement coverage without sacrificing signal quality.
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 accuracy and strength of magnetic field measurements, allowing for the detection of neural activities at greater distances from the stimulus application site, improving the system's ability to measure magnetic fields that were previously difficult to obtain.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor array
Data Source
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AI summary
A nerve stimulating apparatus includes a plurality of stimulating units configured to respectively apply stimuli to a plurality of nerve regions branching from a particular nerve region of a living body, and a stimulation timing controller configured to set generating timings of respectively generating the stimuli at the plurality of stimulating units. The stimulation timing controller sets the generating timings of generating the stimuli at the plurality of stimulating units based on response results of the particular nerve region, the response results being obtained in response to the stimuli that are respectively generated at the plurality of stimulating units and that are respectively applied to the plurality of nerve regions, and the response results being measured by a biometric information measuring apparatus that measures biometric information.