Ear-wearable Device Hypoxic Injury Detection via Sensor Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in timely detection and intervention for hypoxic-anoxic neurological injuries, such as strokes, as individuals may not recognize their condition or seek assistance independently, leading to delayed therapeutic interventions.
Innovation Solution
Ear-wearable devices equipped with microphones, motion sensors, and other sensors monitor speech and movement patterns to detect signs of hypoxic-anoxic injuries, generating alerts and potentially initiating therapy, including drug administration, to facilitate timely medical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If individuals rely on self-recognition and independent action to seek assistance for hypoxic-anoxic injuries, then personal autonomy is maintained, but detection timing is delayed until the individual can recognize and act on symptoms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of hypoxic-anoxic injury patterns through automated monitoring of speech and movement by ear-wearable devices, identifying the condition before the individual can independently recognize and act on symptoms, thereby reducing detection time without requiring individual initiation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data from microphones and motion detectors is constantly analyzed for patterns indicative of hypoxic-anoxic injury, enabling real-time automated detection and alert generation that overrides the need for individual self-recognition
2Loss of time
If automated monitoring systems are implemented to detect hypoxic-anoxic injuries, then detection speed is improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing multi-functional ear-wearable devices that already contain microphones and motion sensors for other purposes (such as hearing assistance or fitness tracking), adding hypoxic-anoxic injury detection capabilities to these universal devices rather than creating entirely new specialized equipment, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system utilizes the device wearer's own physiological signals (speech patterns and movement) as the monitoring source, eliminating the need for separate sensors or external monitoring equipment, and allows the device to automatically detect and alert without requiring additional human resources
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to ear-wearable devices configured to detect patterns indicative of an occurrence, prodrome or sequelae of an anoxic or hypoxic neurological injury. In an embodiment, an ear-wearable device is included. The ear-wearable device can be configured to monitor signals from a microphone and/or a motion sensor to detect a pattern or patterns indicative of an occurrence of an anoxic or hypoxic neurological injury. In some embodiments, a method of monitoring an ear-wearable device wearer for an occurrence of an anoxic or hypoxic neurological injury is included. The method can include gathering signals from one or more of a microphone, a motion sensor, or another sensor of an ear-wearable device and monitoring the signals to detect a pattern or patterns indicative of an occurrence of an anoxic or hypoxic neurological injury. Other embodiments are also included herein.