Eddy Current Respiratory Sensor Coil for Contactless Lung Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulmonary function testing methods pose risks of airborne pathogen transmission to healthcare professionals and are inaccurate in measuring respiratory metrics without tight skin contact, making it difficult to gauge lung function during pandemics or for patients with lung diseases.
Innovation Solution
A wearable, non-contact sensor apparatus using an inductive device with a sensor coil and RLC circuit measures parallel resistance changes in the chest cavity through eddy current damping to track respiratory cycles, allowing for accurate pulmonary function assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional pulmonary function testing methods (spirometry, plethysmography) are used, then respiratory metrics can be measured, but healthcare professionals are exposed to airborne pathogens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by using external sensors (accelerometers, acoustic sensors, strain sensors) to measure respiratory metrics from a distance or through indirect means, eliminating the need for direct contact or close proximity between the healthcare professional and the patient's breath, thus preventing pathogen exposure while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical respiratory measurement systems (spirometry devices requiring breath into a mouthpiece) with electronic sensing systems that can detect respiratory movements and acoustic signals externally, allowing for contactless or minimally contact measurement that eliminates pathogen transmission risks
2Ease of operation
If strain-based sensors are used to measure respiratory waveform, then respiration can be monitored, but accurate measurement requires tight skin contact and calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the respiratory measurement function into multiple independent sensing modalities (accelerometric sensing of thoracic displacement, acoustic sensing of air movement, strain sensing of chest wall deformation), where each modality can be optimized independently and combined to provide accurate measurement without requiring tight skin contact or complex calibration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from direct strain measurement requiring skin contact to multi-parameter sensing including acceleration, acoustic pressure, and indirect displacement measurement, which can be obtained without tight skin contact and require minimal calibration while maintaining measurement accuracy
3Ease of operation
If accelerometers are used to characterize respiratory waveform through thoracic displacement, then respiration can be monitored, but respiratory volume and pulmonary metrics are not accurately gauged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing modalities (accelerometers for thoracic displacement, acoustic sensors for air movement, and additional sensors for volume estimation) into an integrated respiratory monitoring system that combines the ease of operation of accelerometers with the ability to accurately gauge respiratory volume and pulmonary metrics through complementary measurement approaches
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 apparatus provides accurate measurements of pulmonary metrics like FEV1 and FVC without direct skin contact, reducing exposure risks and improving respiratory assessment accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive device including a sensor coil and a resistive, inductive, and capacitive (RLC) circuit
Implementation Method 2
detects changes to its relatively weak magnetic fields generated by the coil and resultant eddy current damping (ECD) in nearby tissue
Implementation Method 3
The components fashion a resonant circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Medical diagnostic devices and related methods of use are described in which a sensor coil may be connected with a resistive, inductive, and capacitive (RCL) circuit including a power meter and a frequency counter, and the sensor may be positioned on a chest of a subject. The sensor apparatus may apply an alternating current through the sensor coil. The sensor apparatus may measure parallel resistance values in the sensor coil using the power meter for a time interval while the subject inhales and exhales. The sensor apparatus may record the parallel resistance values. The sensor apparatus may determine a first change in the parallel resistance values by measuring a difference between a crest and a trough of the parallel resistance values, wherein the crest of the parallel resistance value corresponds to the inhale and the trough of the parallel resistance value corresponds to the exhale of the subject's breath.