Blood Pressure Cuff Vibration Sensor Inflation Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood pressure measurement devices often provide inaccurate readings due to patient movement or surprise-induced stress, which can cause vibrations and artifacts during measurement.

Innovation Solution

A blood pressure measurement apparatus comprising an inflatable member, a sensor, and a controller that detects vibrations and prevents further inflation when movement is detected, allowing for accurate measurements by ensuring the patient remains still and prepared.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the inflatable member is rapidly inflated to complete the blood pressure measurement quickly, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to patient movement and surprise-induced vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidblood pressure reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of patient movement using vibration sensors before initiating the inflation process. This preliminary action allows the system to assess whether the patient is ready for measurement and prevent inflation during movement, thereby ensuring measurement precision while maintaining efficient measurement speed when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vibration levels during the measurement process and provides real-time feedback to the control mechanism. When vibrations exceed a threshold indicating patient movement, the system automatically adjusts or halts the inflation process, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains measurement accuracy without significantly extending measurement time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the inflatable member is inflated to apply sufficient pressure for accurate measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but patient stress and movement increase causing harmful vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood pressure reading accuracyVSAvoidpatient stress and movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies a preliminary low-pressure inflation to gently notify the patient that measurement is about to begin. This preliminary action allows the patient to become aware and settle into a relaxed state before the main measurement inflation occurs, reducing surprise-induced stress and movement that would otherwise compromise measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the inflation pressure and rate based on real-time vibration feedback. Instead of applying maximum pressure immediately, the system modulates the inflation process, increasing pressure gradually while monitoring for patient movement, thereby minimizing stress-induced vibrations while ensuring sufficient pressure is eventually applied for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If vibration detection sensitivity is increased to detect patient movement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor and controller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a single vibration sensor that serves multiple functions: detecting patient movement, monitoring inflation pressure effects, and providing feedback for control adjustments. This multi-functional approach achieves high measurement precision through sensitive movement detection without requiring multiple specialized sensors, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 apparatus ensures accurate blood pressure measurements by preventing inflation during patient movement and providing a notification to the patient, reducing stress and artifacts, thus improving measurement reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor is configured to detect vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20230301530A1Apparatus and methods for optimizing blood pressure measurements

Publication Date: 2023.09.28 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

An apparatus comprising an inflatable member, a sensor and a controller. The inflatable member is configured to apply pressure to a portion of a body of a patient and is configured to be placed in a deflated configuration, a first inflated configuration, and a second inflated configuration. A pressure within the inflatable member when the inflatable member is in the second inflated configuration is greater than a pressure within the inflatable member when the inflatable member is in the first inflated configuration. The sensor is configured to detect vibration. The controller is operatively coupled to the sensor and to the inflatable member. The controller is configured to prevent the inflatable member from being placed in the second inflated configuration in response to the sensor detecting vibrations indicating movement of the body of the patient while the inflatable member is in the first inflated configuration.