Blood Pressure Control Device Using Segmented Inflation Phases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current blood pressure measurement systems are inefficient in reducing measurement time while maintaining accuracy, especially for hemodynamic parameters, as they often require prolonged inflation and deflation cycles.

Innovation Solution

A control device that manages three distinct pressure application phases: a fast initial inflation, a heart-rate dependent intermediate phase, and a slow, accurate measurement phase, using a combination of pressure sensors and mathematical features to determine blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters quickly and accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a prolonged inflation and deflation cycle is used to ensure accurate blood pressure measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement process is divided into three distinct phases: a fast initial inflation phase to quickly reach a preliminary pressure level, a heart-rate dependent intermediate phase to refine the measurement, and a slow accurate measurement phase to obtain final precise values. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both speed and accuracy by performing different measurement tasks at different rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions during the fast initial inflation phase by quickly establishing a preliminary pressure level and obtaining initial pressure pulse signals. These preliminary measurements are then used to guide the subsequent intermediate and final measurement phases, reducing the overall time required while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If a fast initial inflation is used to reduce measurement time, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidblood pressure measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement process is divided into three distinct phases: a fast initial inflation phase to quickly reach a preliminary pressure level, a heart-rate dependent intermediate phase to refine the measurement, and a slow accurate measurement phase to obtain final precise values. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both speed and accuracy by performing different measurement tasks at different rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from pressure pulse signals detected during the fast initial inflation phase to guide the subsequent measurement phases. The heart rate information and pressure pulse characteristics obtained during rapid inflation are used to adjust the intermediate and final measurement rates, ensuring that fast initial measurements do not compromise final measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4167841B1Control device for controlling a measurement system for measuring blood pressure
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4167841B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4167841B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4167841B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a control device for controlling a measurement system for measuring blood pressure and optionally hemodynamic parameters of a subject. In a first measurement time period T1, for measured pressure pulses, features are determined, which characterize the respective pressure pulse. Based on the features, start values are determined and, based on the start values, a start curve TPW F-curve is formed. The measurement system is controlled such that, after the start curve has reached a first maximum, a second measurement time period T2 succeeds, wherein a blood pressure value is determined based on the pressure measured in the second measurement time period. It has been found that by using the maximum in the first measurement time period for defining a start point for the actual blood pressure measurement, a blood pressure value and optionally also hemodynamic parameters of a subject can be determined very accurately and fast..