Biological Signal Sensor with Light Blocking Member for Blood Refill Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring blood refill time are prone to errors due to manual pressure application and visual observation, leading to non-reproducible and non-quantitative results, and are affected by the material used in pressure application devices, which compromises accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A biological signal measuring system comprising a sensor that applies pressure and emits light to measure the change in light intensity over time, using a cuff or band configuration with a light blocking member to ensure consistent pressure and accurate light transmission, allowing for quantitative calculation of blood refill time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pressure application and visual observation are used to measure blood refill time, then the measurement process is simple, but the results are non-reproducible and non-quantitative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pressure application with an automated actuator that applies controlled pressure through a light-transmitting member. The visual observation is replaced by an optical sensor that quantitatively measures light intensity changes. This substitution transforms the simple but imprecise manual method into an automated system that provides reproducible, quantitative measurements while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light-transmitting member as an intermediary between the actuator and the living tissue. This intermediary ensures consistent pressure application by distributing force uniformly through its structure, eliminating the variability caused by direct actuator contact. The light-transmitting member also serves as the optical path for measurement, integrating pressure application and light transmission functions.
2Device complexity
If an actuator directly contacts living tissue to apply pressure, then the device structure is simple, but the contacting position varies leading to reduced reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The light-transmitting member serves as an intermediary between the actuator and living tissue, providing a consistent interface for pressure application. Regardless of where the actuator contacts the light-transmitting member, the pressure is distributed uniformly through the member's structure to the tissue, ensuring reproducible measurement conditions without requiring precise positioning.
3Measurement precision
If an air bag is used to compress living tissue, then consistent pressure can be applied, but the material of the air bag affects light transmission and reduces measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light transmission function from the pressure application component by using a dedicated light-transmitting member made of optically transparent material. This separates the pressure application function (performed by the actuator through the member) from the light transmission function (performed by the transparent member), eliminating the interference between these functions that occurs when using opaque air bag materials.
4Ease of operation
If the same portion of living tissue is not consistently contacted, then the device is easy to apply, but the measurement results lack reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The light-transmitting member acts as a standardized intermediary interface between the actuator and various portions of living tissue. Its uniform structure and optical properties ensure that pressure is applied consistently regardless of the specific tissue location, enabling reproducible measurements while maintaining ease of device application to different body sites.
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 provides accurate and reproducible measurements of blood refill time by minimizing the impact of pressure application variability and material effects, ensuring reliable data collection across different body locations.
Implementation Method 1
emit light toward the living tissue and receive transmitted light or reflected light from the living tissue
Implementation Method 2
a first light transmitting member through which the light emitted from the light emitter passes to enter the living tissue, and a second light transmitting member through which transmitted light or reflected light from the living tissue passes to reach the light receiver
Data Source
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AI summary
A biological signal measuring system includes a sensor and a biological signal measuring apparatus configured to calculate a blood refill time of a living tissue of a subject. The sensor includes a pressure applying portion configured to apply pressure on the living tissue, a light emitter confgured to emit light toward the living tissue, a light receiver configured to receive reflected light or transmitted light from the living tissue, a first light transmitting member made of a light transmitting material and having one side contacting the light emitter and the other side arranged to contact the subject, a second light transmitting member made of a light transmitting material and having one side contacting the light receiver and the other side arranged to contact the subject, and a light blocking member configured to block light between the light emitter and the light receiver.