Electromagnetic Brain Monitoring for Non-Invasive Hemorrhage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of neurological status in critical care settings to detect changes such as intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or seizures, as current technologies are invasive or require specialized equipment and cannot detect small volumes of bleeding or edema progression.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive neurological status evaluation apparatus using electromagnetic signals, comprising a signal generator, transmitting and receiving antennas, and a spectrum analyzer to measure modulated electromagnetic signals through biological tissue, calculating an evaluation parameter to indicate neurological status without electrical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If invasive monitoring methods or specialized equipment like EEG, MEG, or EIT are used, then measurement precision of neurological status is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneurological status detection accuracyVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex specialized equipment (EEG, MEG, EIT) with a simplified electromagnetic signal transmission system using standard antennas and spectrum analyzers to measure dielectric properties of brain tissue, achieving neurological monitoring without requiring specialized medical equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention measures changes in dielectric properties of brain tissue by analyzing modulated electromagnetic signals at different frequencies, translating complex neurological status into measurable electromagnetic parameter changes that can be detected by standard equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If invasive monitoring methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and patient safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneurological status detection accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity and patient safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical monitoring methods with non-invasive electromagnetic signal transmission through the skull, eliminating the need for surgical implantation while maintaining the ability to measure brain tissue dielectric properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses electromagnetic waves as an intermediary to transmit information through the skull and brain tissue without direct contact or invasion, allowing measurement of neurological status through the intact skull while avoiding surgical intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If current monitoring technologies are used, then specialized measurement capability is improved, but adaptability to various settings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecialized detection capabilityVSAvoiddeployment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal monitoring system using standard electromagnetic equipment that can be deployed across multiple settings (emergency rooms, ambulances, nursing facilities) without requiring location-specific specialized equipment, achieving both detection capability and deployment flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If non-invasive methods without electrical contact are used, then ease of operation and patient safety are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-invasive operation simplicityVSAvoidneurological status detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention measures dielectric properties of brain tissue by analyzing frequency-dependent modulation of electromagnetic signals, extracting precise neurological information from non-invasive measurements through mathematical analysis of signal changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent detects changes in electromagnetic signal characteristics (analogous to color changes in optical detection) as the brain's dielectric properties change due to pathology, translating subtle signal modulations into detectable neurological status indicators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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 can detect small volumes of intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema, providing early detection and continuous monitoring, reducing missed treatment opportunities in traumatic brain injuries.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitting antenna coupled to the signal generator, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving antenna positioned proximate to the transmitting antenna such that an evaluation space is defined between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives a modulated electromagnetic signal after propagating through the biological tissue under evaluation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the biological tissue under evaluation does not contact the transmitting antenna nor the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives a modulated electromagnetic signal after propagating through the biological tissue under evaluation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal modulation through tissue: Dielectric Permittivity

Data Source

PatentEP3378392B1Apparatuses for neurological status evaluation using electromagnetic signals
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
  • EP3378392B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3378392B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3378392B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a neurological status evaluation apparatus includes a signal generator configured to generate an electromagnetic signal at one or more frequencies, a transmitting antenna coupled to the signal generator and configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving antenna positioned proximate to the transmitting antenna such that an evaluation space is defined between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The biological tissue under evaluation does not contact the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives a modulated electromagnetic signal after propagating through the biological tissue under evaluation. The neurological status evaluation apparatus further includes a spectrum analyzer coupled to the receiving antenna, wherein the spectrum analyzer receives and samples the modulated electromagnetic signal. A computing device is coupled to the spectrum analyzer, calculates an evaluation, and provides a neurological status indicator of the biological tissue under evaluation based on the evaluation parameter.