Choroidal Thickness Measurement for Non-Invasive Stress Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stress detection methods face challenges such as invasive procedures, mental and physical burdens, and inaccuracies due to diurnal fluctuations and individual differences in stress markers, making it difficult to objectively and non-invasively assess a stressed state.
Innovation Solution
The use of choroidal thickness or volume measured through optical coherence tomography as indicators for detecting stress, allowing for non-invasive and accurate assessment of a stressed state without contact, reducing mental and physical burdens, and minimizing the influence of eye movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blood sampling is used to measure stress markers, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to pain and stress from the invasive procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive blood sampling system with an optical imaging system (OCT) that uses light to non-invasively measure choroidal thickness. This substitution eliminates the harmful effects of needle puncture while maintaining measurement capability through a different physical modality (optical coherence tomography instead of biochemical analysis of blood samples)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces choroidal thickness as an intermediary biomarker that correlates with stress states without requiring direct blood sampling. The choroid serves as a mediator that reflects physiological stress responses through its thickness changes, allowing indirect but non-invasive measurement of stress-related physiological changes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If saliva sampling is used to measure stress markers, then object-affected harmful factors are reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to changes in saliva properties from external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces biochemical analysis of saliva (which is susceptible to contamination and property changes) with optical imaging of choroidal thickness. This substitution uses a physical measurement method (light scattering and reflection patterns in ocular tissues) that is not affected by dietary or environmental factors that alter saliva composition
3Measurement precision
If stress markers with short half-life are used, then measurement precision for acute stress is improved, but reliability worsens due to difficulty in capturing the stressed state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs rapid OCT imaging to capture choroidal thickness changes before they can revert to baseline. By acquiring the optical coherence tomography data quickly and analyzing choroidal thickness immediately, the system captures acute stress responses in the choroid before physiological homeostasis restores normal thickness, enabling reliable detection of transient stress states
4Measurement precision
If multiple measurement conditions are controlled, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the choroid as a specific measurement target within the eye, using OCT technology to selectively image only the choroidal layer. By focusing the measurement on this specific anatomical structure and its thickness parameter, the system simplifies the overall measurement approach compared to comprehensive blood or saliva analysis protocols that require multiple controlled conditions
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
This method enables reliable and accurate detection of stressed states, including latent stress, facilitating early prevention of stress-related symptoms and diseases, and improving health management and labor productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a method in which the thickness or volume of the choroid is employed as an indicator, to detect a stressed state of a subject... a tomographic image of the choroid of the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting a stressed state, including a step of detecting a stressed state of a subject based on a tomographic image of a choroid of the subject, and a stress detection apparatus including: an image acquisition unit that acquires a tomographic image of a choroid of a subject; a calculation unit that calculates a choroidal thickness or a volume of the choroid based on the tomographic image; and a detection unit that detects a stressed state of the subject based on the choroidal thickness or the volume of the choroid.