Conformal Mechano-Acoustic Sensor for Wearable Physiological Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechano-acoustic sensing devices for cardiovascular diagnostics and human-machine interfaces are limited by their rigid designs, which restrict wearability, suppress subtle physiological motions, and fail to simultaneously capture multiple signal types like ECG, PCG, and SCG due to inertial effects and acoustic impedance mismatches with the skin.
Innovation Solution
Development of a conformal mechano-acoustic sensing device with a flexible housing, low-modulus elastomeric core, and capacitive electrodes that can detect mechano-acoustic signals between 0.01 Hz and 10,000 Hz, allowing for simultaneous recording of electrophysiological and acoustic signals, and integration with the skin for long-term wearability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional rigid electronic packages with accelerometers are used, then mechanical coupling for signal detection is achieved, but wearability is restricted and subtle physiological motions are suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible substrates and thin-film encapsulation layers to create a wearable sensor that conforms to the body surface. The flexible housing and elastomeric core allow the device to adapt to curvilinear regions while maintaining mechanical coupling for detecting subtle physiological motions without the rigidity-induced suppression present in conventional packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the mechanical properties of the sensor package by using low-modulus elastomeric materials and minimizing mass, thereby changing the device's stiffness and weight parameters. This enables the sensor to detect subtle physiological motions while being comfortable and wearable, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional sensing devices with physical masses are used, then structural stability is provided, but inertial effects suppress subtle motions associated with physiological events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dramatically reduces the mass and modifies the stiffness parameters of the sensor package by eliminating traditional rigid components and using low-modulus elastomeric materials. This parameter change allows the detection of subtle physiological motions while maintaining structural stability through the flexible housing and elastomeric core design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structures combining flexible substrates, elastomeric cores, and thin-film encapsulation layers. This composite approach provides the necessary structural stability while minimizing mass and inertial effects, enabling detection of subtle physiological motions that would be suppressed by conventional single-material rigid packages.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional devices with dissimilar mass densities and moduli are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but acoustic impedance mismatches with skin occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent matches the mass density and elastic modulus parameters of the sensor package to those of human skin by using low-modulus elastomeric materials. This parameter matching eliminates acoustic impedance mismatches, improving acoustic coupling and measurement precision while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of compatible elastomeric materials.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional devices offering single mode of operation are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to simultaneously capture multiple signal types is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal sensor platform with a flexible housing and elastomeric core that can simultaneously capture multiple signal types including ECG, PCG, SCG, and BCG. This multi-functional design achieves adaptability for simultaneous signal capture while managing device complexity through a unified structural approach rather than separate dedicated sensors for each modality.
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 device enables precise, long-term recording of vital physiological signals with improved wearability and measurement capabilities, bypassing limitations of conventional technologies by providing efficient mechano-acoustic coupling and multimodal operation, including speech recognition and heart murmur detection.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible housing can include an upper flexible insulating layer, a lower flexible insulating layer, and an elastomeric core that comprises an elastic material
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric core that comprises an elastic material
Implementation Method 3
a mechano-acoustic sensor configured to detect mechano-acoustic signals
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present technology include a soft, conformal class of device configured specifically for mechano-acoustic recording from the skin, capable of being used on nearly any part of the body, in forms that maximize detectable signals and allow for multimodal operation, such as electrophysiological recording. Some embodiments can be configured for use in cardiovascular diagnostics, implantable device diagnostics, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). In some embodiments, a conformal sensing device for measuring mechano-acoustic recording from skin of a human subject can include a mechano-acoustic sensor, a wireless transmitter, a flexible housing, and/or one or more electrodes.