Electro-meridian Diagnostic System with Pressure-Sensing Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently measuring cross-body electrical currents for medical condition detection, particularly in differentiating between viral and bacterial infections, and require improved electrode positioning and pressure sensing for reliable measurements.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic system employing a current sensor with a ground electrode and probe electrode that can be held in one hand, allowing for measurements across the body, and incorporating pressure sensors to ensure proper electrode contact, along with a lookup table or machine learning model to analyze current states for medical condition diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrodes are held freely in hand with flexible wires, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to positioning instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows electrodes to transition from a fixed rigid configuration to a flexible movable configuration. The rigid structure provides stable positioning during measurement, while flexible wires allow the patient to hold and position the device comfortably. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If electrodes are fixed in rigid structure, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system combines rigid structural components for stable measurement with flexible wire connections that allow patient-held positioning. The rigid structure maintains fixed electrode spacing for precision, while flexible wires enable the patient to hold the device in comfortable positions, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If pressure sensing is not implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to insufficient contact detection
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure sensors provide real-time feedback on electrode contact force with the patient's skin. This feedback mechanism ensures that sufficient pressure is applied to achieve good electrical contact, thereby improving measurement precision. The pressure sensing adds complexity but enables reliable detection of contact quality, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and measurement reliability.
4Productivity
If rapid screening is implemented, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to reduced measurement time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the patient hold the rigid structured device in place, ensuring stable electrode positioning before measurement begins. This preliminary positioning action allows for rapid sequential measurements at multiple acupuncture points without requiring repeated positioning adjustments, thereby maintaining both high productivity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous measurement action by sequentially measuring currents at multiple acupuncture points without interrupting the patient's holding of the device. The rigid structure ensures continuous stable contact, allowing rapid sequential measurements that maintain precision while improving screening productivity through continuous data collection.
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 rapid and accurate detection of viral and bacterial infections, providing a mass-scale screening tool during epidemics and ensuring accurate current measurements by addressing electrode positioning and pressure issues.
Implementation Method 1
The current sensor may take measurements of small electrical currents that flow between a probe electrode and a ground electrode
Implementation Method 2
one or more pressure sensors measure how much pressure is being applied to the probe and/or ground electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A current sensor may take measurements of electrical currents that flow between two limbs of a patient through at least a portion of the patient's torso. The current measurements may be taken during a single diagnostic session while the patient holds a ground electrode in a hand of one limb and a probe electrode is sequentially placed at different locations on the distal portions of other limbs. Each of the measurement locations may be an acupuncture point. An electrical current state for the diagnostic session may be calculated. This state may consist of current ranges for one or more electrical currents that are measured during the session. A lookup table may be employed to determine one or more medical conditions that are indicated by the current state. Alternatively, a trained machine learning model may predict, based on the measured currents, one or more medical conditions.