Capacitive Heart Rate Detection for Moving Animals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for detecting heart rate and heart rate variability in companion animals face significant accuracy and confidence issues due to noise artifacts introduced by animal movement, which reduces the reliability of the data obtained.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with at least one capacitive displacement sensor, featuring two electrodes - an outer transmitting electrode and an inner receiving electrode - that detects pulse signals associated with distance changes between the sensor and the animal's skin, coupled with a signal processor to convert these signals into heart rate waveforms, effectively filtering out noise and improving data accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional heart rate detection methods are used in moving animals, then the device can detect heart rate signals, but motion artifacts introduce noise that significantly reduces measurement accuracy and data reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical contact-based heart rate detection with a capacitive sensing system that uses electrical fields to detect cardiac activity. The capacitive sensor measures changes in capacitance caused by the electrical potential changes during heartbeats, eliminating the need for direct mechanical or optical contact that generates motion artifacts. This substitution of the detection mechanism fundamentally resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate measurement during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary between the sensor and the animal's body. Instead of direct contact sensing, the capacitive sensor detects heart rate through the electrical field that penetrates through the animal's coat and skin. This intermediary field allows detection without physical contact, thereby eliminating motion-induced noise while maintaining measurement accuracy during animal movement.
2Loss of information
If contact-based sensors are used to detect heart rate, then signal acquisition is possible, but motion artifacts and noise significantly reduce confidence in the data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical sensing with field-based capacitive sensing. The capacitive sensor detects heart rate through electrical field interactions without requiring direct physical contact with the animal's skin. This substitution eliminates the generation of motion artifacts that occur with contact-based sensors, thereby preserving signal quality and increasing data confidence during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the animal's movement, which traditionally creates harmful noise artifacts in contact-based sensing, into a non-problematic condition for capacitive sensing. Since capacitive sensors detect electrical fields rather than relying on mechanical contact, the animal's movement no longer degrades signal quality. The harmful effect of motion is effectively neutralized by the different sensing mechanism, allowing continuous reliable monitoring during activity.
3Measurement precision
If existing heart rate monitoring technologies are applied to companion animals, then basic heart rate data can be obtained, but accuracy and confidence are significantly reduced during animal movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based detection systems with capacitive electrical field sensing. This substitution allows the system to detect heart rate and heart rate variability without the mechanical contact that generates motion-induced noise artifacts. The capacitive sensing mechanism is inherently more robust to movement, thereby improving measurement precision during animal activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an electrical field as an intermediary to detect cardiac activity without direct contact. This electrical field intermediary penetrates through the animal's coat and skin to detect the electrical potential changes associated with heartbeats. By using this intermediary field rather than direct mechanical contact, the system eliminates motion-induced noise artifacts while maintaining accurate detection of heart rate and heart rate variability even during movement.
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 solution enhances the accuracy and confidence of heart rate and heart rate variability data by filtering out motion-induced noise, providing reliable insights into the emotional and health status of companion animals, even during movement.
Implementation Method 1
at least one capacitive displacement sensor... detects a pulse by producing a signal associated with a distance change between a skin of a wearer of the device and the at least one capacitive displacement sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments can include a device for detecting heart rate. In a number of embodiments, the device can comprise at least one capacitive displacement sensor coupled to a strap. In many embodiments, the at least one capacitive displacement sensor can comprise two electrodes. In some embodiments, the two electrodes can comprise an outer transmitting electrode and an inner receiving electrode. In various embodiments, the at least one capacitive displacement sensor can detect a pulse by producing a signal associated with a distance change between a skin of a wearer of the device and the at least one capacitive displacement sensor. Other embodiments of related apparatuses, methods and systems are also provided.