Bladder Filling Level Detection Using NIRS, EIS, and EIT Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive techniques for determining bladder filling level, such as NIRS, EIS, and EIT, face challenges in accuracy due to variations in skin pigmentation, body anatomy, and improper device positioning, leading to unreliable bladder volume estimation.
Innovation Solution
A combined device using NIRS, EIS, and EIT techniques that selectively operate in their optimal measuring environments, with feedback mechanisms to ensure correct positioning and disturbance detection, sharing hardware for compactness and improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NIRS technique is used to determine bladder filling level, then non-invasive measurement is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to skin pigmentation and body anatomy variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines NIRS, EIS, and EIT techniques into a single integrated device. Each technique measures different physiological parameters (optical properties, electrical impedance, and impedance distribution respectively), and their fusion compensates for individual limitations, particularly addressing the precision issues caused by skin pigmentation and body anatomy variations through multi-modal data integration
2Device complexity
If single measuring technique is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to operate in optimal environments for all conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically selects and adjusts which measuring techniques to use based on environmental conditions and measurement requirements. The control unit determines the optimal combination of NIRS, EIS, and EIT techniques for each measurement scenario, allowing the system to adapt to different body types, skin conditions, and bladder filling states, thereby maintaining high precision across varying conditions
3Ease of operation
If device positioning is not monitored, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor positioning accuracy in real-time and provide guidance to the user for correct placement. The system evaluates measurement signals to detect positioning errors and communicates this information back to the user, enabling self-correction without requiring complex manual positioning procedures, thus maintaining both ease of operation and measurement precision
4Measurement precision
If multiple measuring techniques are combined, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs universal components that serve multiple functions across different measuring techniques. For example, the same sensor array and processing unit handle NIRS, EIS, and EIT measurements, reducing redundant hardware. The control unit universally processes all measurement types through a unified algorithm framework, simplifying the overall system architecture despite the multi-technique approach
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 combined device provides accurate and reliable bladder filling level determination by enhancing measurement precision through complementary techniques and feedback, minimizing positioning errors and external influences.
Implementation Method 1
near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be a non-invasive technique used to collect data that allows to estimate the filling level of the bladder by using the absorption, reflection and scattering properties of organic tissue
Implementation Method 2
electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be another non-invasive sensing technique for monitoring the condition of the human bladder
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a non-invasive device 1 for determining a filling level of the urinary bladder of a user. The device 1 comprises a control unit 10, a light source 11, a current source 12, a light measuring unit 13, a voltage measuring unit 14 and an evaluation unit 20. The light source 11 is adapted to irradiate light into a region of the user's body covering the pelvic region. The current source 12 is adapted to output and pass a current through the region of the user's body using at least two electrodes 121. The control unit 10 is adapted to: output, to the light source 11, a first control signal matched to the user, for controlling the light irradiated by the light source 11; and output, to the current source 12, a second control signal matched to the user, for controlling the current output by the current source 12. The light measuring unit 13 is adapted to: measure the light emitted from the light source 11 and light reflected from organs of the user's body; and output a first measuring signal corresponding to the measured light. The voltage measuring unit 14 is adapted to: measure a voltage based on the current passed through the region of the user's body using at least two electrodes 141 resting against the user's body; and output a second measurement signal corresponding to the measured voltage. The evaluation unit 20 is adapted to determine the filling level of the urinary bladder based on the first measurement signal and/or the second measurement signal. Thereby, a combination of the techniques of near-infrared spectroscopy, electrical impedance spectroscopy and/or electrical impedance tomography is implemented into a single device 1 that uses the techniques in a complementing manner.