Bow-Shaped Newborn Pulse Meter With Flexible Spring-Loaded Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring newborn heart rate are neither fast nor accurate, posing a risk as delays in initiation of facemask ventilation can increase mortality, and existing devices are not flexible enough to accommodate newborns of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A bow-shaped pulse meter with flexible, spring-loaded arms made of a hard yet flexible material, integrated with electrically conductive soft plastics and metal electrodes, allowing for snug and gentle contact with the baby's torso, providing reliable and accurate heart rate measurement without the need for gel-based electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ECG is used, then measurement precision is improved, but speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical ECG electrodes with a flexible wearable band that uses conductive material in direct skin contact. This substitution enables rapid heart rate measurement through continuous electrical signal acquisition while maintaining measurement precision, resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy in newborn heart rate assessment
2Speed
If pulse oximetry is used, then speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes pulse oximetry with direct electrical signal acquisition through conductive material in contact with the newborn's skin. This replacement maintains the speed advantage of non-invasive monitoring while achieving superior measurement precision through direct ECG signal capture, thereby resolving the accuracy-speed trade-off
3Ease of manufacture
If a rigid intermediate layer is used to attach electronic device, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible wearable band made of soft, adaptable material that can conform to newborn bodies of different sizes and shapes. This flexible construction provides ease of manufacture through simple manufacturing processes while achieving superior adaptability to various newborn morphologies, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and size adaptability
4Measurement precision
If metal electrodes are embedded to improve signal quality, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material construction where conductive polymer or coated material is integrated into the flexible band structure. This composite approach improves electrical signal quality comparable to metal electrodes while reducing device complexity by eliminating separate metal electrode components and simplifying the overall device architecture
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 rapid, accurate, and reliable heart rate assessment, reducing the risk of delayed ventilation and accommodating newborns of varying sizes with a soft, easy-to-clean, and user-friendly design that maintains electrical signal quality.
Implementation Method 1
said material having further spring back properties so that the arms naturally contract inwards such that said electrodes are maintained in contact with the patient's body
Implementation Method 2
use an electrically conductive, soft plastics to give a soft touch against the baby's body, while picking up the electrical signals from the baby's skin and conduct them to the electronic control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A bow shaped pulse meter for new-born patients, comprising a control unit arranged in a central portion of the pulse meter, a first arm with an integrated first electrode and a second arm with an integrated second electrode extending respectively in a bow from opposite sides of the central portion, the integrated electrodes are configured to be in contact with a patient body (not shown) when in use, the electrodes being further electrically connected to the control unit. The pulse meter being distinctive in that the first and second arm and the control unit comprising an integral core element being made of a material having flexible properties to allow the respective arms to bend away from each other when the pulse meter is being arranged into an applying or removing position on the patient's body, the material having further spring back properties so that the arms naturally contract inwards such that the electrodes are maintained in contact with the patient's body when the pulse meter is in the applied position, the pulse meter further comprising a second layer overmolding at least a portion of each arm of the core element, the material of the second layer being electro conductive forming a connection between the electrodes and the control unit.