Calibrating Noninvasive Blood Sensors Using Segmented Skin Simulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noninvasive blood measurement devices require accurate calibration to account for individual variations in skin characteristics, such as thickness, color, and anatomy, to accurately measure blood material concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A system with multiple sets of calibrating elements simulating different skin characteristics and material concentrations, along with a controller to associate received illumination intensities with specific skin characteristics and concentrations, storing these in lookup tables for accurate calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single calibration set is used for all patients, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to individual skin characteristic variations
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system is segmented into multiple discrete calibration sets, each corresponding to specific skin characteristics (e.g., skin type, thickness, pigmentation). Instead of using a single universal calibration, the system divides the calibration space into distinct categories that can be individually selected based on patient characteristics, thereby maintaining measurement precision without requiring a single overly complex universal calibration model.
Solution Approach 2:
Different calibration parameters and characteristics are applied locally to match specific patient skin types. Each calibration set contains optimized parameters tailored to particular skin characteristics, allowing the system to adapt the calibration quality to the local (individual) needs of each patient rather than applying a uniform calibration approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple calibration sets with different skin characteristics are implemented, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple calibration sets are prepared in advance, with each set pre-configured for specific skin characteristics. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly adapt to different patients by simply selecting the appropriate pre-prepared calibration set, rather than performing complex real-time calibration adjustments, thus improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration system is designed with universal structure that can accommodate multiple calibration sets through a unified interface and selection mechanism. The same hardware and software framework handles all calibration sets, allowing the system to serve multiple calibration purposes without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If manual calibration procedures are used for each patient, then the measurement precision improves, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service calibration by automatically determining the appropriate calibration set based on patient input or preliminary measurements. Patients can independently select their skin type or other characteristics, and the system automatically applies the correct calibration, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures while maintaining precision and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system receives information about patient characteristics and automatically adjusts the calibration parameters accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain high measurement precision through accurate calibration while automating the process to improve productivity and reduce manual intervention.
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
Enables precise calibration of noninvasive blood measurement devices to accurately measure blood material concentrations across varying skin types, improving measurement accuracy and automation.
Implementation Method 1
Different humans' skin has different characteristics, such as, different thicknesses of different skin layers, different amount of hair, different amount of pigment etc., and therefore may absorb differently the electromagnetic signals sent from the noninvasive measurements device
Implementation Method 2
operated by sending electromagnetic signals (e.g., visual light, IR radiation, RF radiation, etc.) via the patient skin targeting a blood vessel and reading reflection received from the blood vessel
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for calibrating a device for measuring materials concentration in the blood is disclosed. The system may include at least two sets of calibrating elements, each set may include a plurality of calibrating elements. Each of the calibrating elements in the sets may include, a first layer simulating a specific human skin characteristics; and a second layer consisting a specific concentration of one or more materials in the blood. For all calibrating elements in a set the first layer may be the same first layer simulating the same human skin characteristics such that each set of calibrating elements simulate different skin characteristics. Each calibrating element in a set of calibrating elements may include a different second layer consisting a different concentration of the one or more materials. The system may further include a controller.