Automated Blood Loss Detection Using Weight Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring blood loss during labor and postnatal procedures are inadequate, leading to delayed detection of postpartum hemorrhage, a major cause of maternal mortality, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries, as they rely on manual inspections and visual measurements, which are inaccurate and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising specialized hospital beds with cone-shaped connectors and weight sensors connected to blood holding bags and microcontrollers that continuously measure blood loss and automatically trigger alarms when exceeding predetermined thresholds, eliminating the need for manual intervention and providing real-time, accurate data on blood loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection and visual measurement methods are used to monitor blood loss, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision and detection speed are insufficient leading to delayed detection of postpartum hemorrhage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection (mechanical/human system) with electronic weight sensors and automated measurement systems. The weight sensors electronically measure blood loss by detecting weight changes in collection containers, providing precise quantitative data without requiring manual intervention or visual estimation by healthcare providers.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system performs self-measurement through automated weight detection and calculation. The system automatically tracks blood loss by continuously monitoring weight changes in collection containers, calculates cumulative loss, and generates alerts without requiring manual measurement or intervention, enabling the system to monitor itself autonomously.
2Productivity
If manual monitoring of blood loss is performed, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and response time are reduced due to time-consuming manual inspections
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensors continuously monitor blood loss without interruption throughout the labor and delivery process. The system maintains continuous weight measurement and automatic calculation of cumulative blood loss, eliminating the gaps and delays inherent in periodic manual inspections, thereby providing uninterrupted real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual inspection processes with automated electronic weight measurement systems. The electronic sensors instantaneously detect weight changes and the microcontroller automatically processes this data, dramatically increasing detection speed and eliminating the delays associated with manual measurement and calculation methods.
3Reliability
If automated weight sensor-based blood loss measurement is implemented, then the measurement precision and detection speed improve, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensors and monitoring system serve multiple functions: they measure blood loss weight, calculate cumulative loss, trigger visual and audible alarms, and provide continuous monitoring throughout labor and delivery. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single integrated system, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller acts as an intermediary that automatically processes weight sensor data, performs calculations, and triggers alarm outputs. This intermediary component simplifies the system architecture by centralizing control logic and automatically coordinating between sensors and alarm devices, reducing the complexity of direct sensor-to-alarm connections.
4Loss of time
If real-time automated alarm notification is implemented, then the response time to postpartum hemorrhage improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional alarm components
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-sets alarm thresholds for blood loss amounts before delivery begins. When the measured blood loss reaches these predetermined thresholds, the alarm automatically triggers without requiring real-time decision-making or additional complexity in threshold calculation algorithms, simplifying the control logic while maintaining rapid response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines visual alarms (LED indicators) and audible alarms (buzzer) into a single integrated alarm notification system controlled by the microcontroller. This merging of multiple alarm modalities under one control mechanism provides comprehensive notification while avoiding the complexity of separate independent alarm systems.
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 enables timely and accurate detection of excessive blood loss, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage by automatically alerting healthcare personnel through sound and light alarms, thus improving maternal safety and reducing mortality rates.
Implementation Method 1
the weight of the blood holding bag is measured using a weight sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for detecting and notifying occurrence of post-partum haemorrhage in female patients is envisaged. Continued tracking of the blood discharged from a female patient's body during labor as well as postnatal operation procedures is provided for, and as soon as the amount of blood discharged from the body of the female patient exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a light-based alarm and sound-based alarm are triggered. The apparatus includes a first connector connected to the female patient when she is on a Labor Recovery Delivery bed, and a second connector woven onto an undergarment to be worn by the female patient. The first connector and second connector are connected to single use, disposable blood collection bags, whose weights are measured using weight sensors for an accurate calculation of the total amount of the blood lost by the female patient during labor operation procedures and postnatal operation procedures.