Dehydration Risk Detection via Heart Rate and Posture Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring dehydration, such as chemical tests and orthostatic tilt tests, are impractical for remote, multi-person testing and are influenced by movement and posture, which are difficult to control in field-based measurements.
Innovation Solution
A system using biomechanical sensors like tri-axial accelerometers and gyroscopes, combined with heart rate monitoring, processes data to determine dehydration risk through algorithms that analyze posture and activity levels, allowing for remote assessment without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If field-based measurements are performed without controlling body position and activity level, then remote monitoring capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to movement artefacts and orthostatic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vital signs measurement problem by separating the control of body position and activity level from the actual vital signs measurement. Biomechanical sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) independently monitor posture and movement, allowing the system to identify and exclude periods with movement artefacts, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling remote monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biomechanical sensors as an intermediary between the person being monitored and the vital signs measurement system. These sensors act as mediators that detect posture and activity level, providing contextual information that allows the system to compensate for movement effects and maintain accurate dehydration assessment without requiring direct clinician control.
2Measurement precision
If clinician manually controls person's position and activity level, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring and controlling for posture and activity level effects without requiring clinician intervention. The biomechanical sensors continuously track body position and movement, and the processing system automatically identifies valid measurement periods, eliminating the need for manual direction while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback loops where biomechanical sensor data continuously informs the vital signs measurement process. The system uses real-time posture and activity level information to adjust measurement timing and selection, automatically compensating for confounding factors without requiring manual clinician control, thereby maintaining precision while improving ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If traditional chemical tests and orthostatic tilt tests are used, then dehydration assessment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to impracticality for remote multi-person testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that combines biomechanical sensors, heart rate monitoring, and dehydration assessment capabilities into a single platform. This multi-functional device can assess multiple persons remotely simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate chemical tests and orthostatic tilt tests while maintaining dehydration assessment accuracy through integrated sensor data analysis.
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 accurate, automated determination of dehydration risk in individuals under varying activity levels and postures, providing timely alerts and improving the accuracy of dehydration assessment beyond clinic settings.
Implementation Method 1
Biomechanical sensors include, for example, tri axial accelerometers and gyroscopes which determine the posture and activity level of a person
Implementation Method 2
receiving data of a heart rate of the person
Data Source
AI summary
A system, device and method of determining the probability of dehydration of a person is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving data of a heart rate of the person; receiving data of a posture of the person; determining that a first posture of the person satisfies first posture criteria for a first predetermined time period; determining a first heart rate for the person during the first predetermined time period; subsequent to determining that the first posture of the person satisfies first posture criteria for a first predetermined time period, determining that a second posture of the person satisfies second posture criteria for at least a second predetermined period; determining a second heart rate for the person during the second predetermined time period; determining a change in heart rate as the second heart rate minus the first average heart rate; determining a first probability of dehydration based, at least in part, on the change in heart rate; and outputting the first probability of dehydration.