Ethylene Glycol Skin Sensor for Postpartum Depression Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for monitoring stress in expectant women during pregnancy lack objectivity, relying on subjective self-reporting and failing to provide timely intervention for postpartum depression, which can develop within two weeks after childbirth.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a sensor to detect ethylene glycol concentrations on the skin surface, which correlates with stress levels, to objectively assess stress and provide alerts when levels exceed normal ranges, enabling early intervention for postpartum depression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If subjective self-reporting methods are used to monitor stress in expectant women, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the measurement precision and objectivity of stress levels deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implementationVSAvoidobjectivity of stress measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of subjective self-reporting with a sensor-based detection system that objectively measures ethylene glycol concentrations in sweat, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation through automated monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ethylene glycol concentration in sweat as an intermediary biomarker that objectively reflects stress levels, allowing indirect but precise measurement of stress without requiring subjective self-reporting from the expectant woman

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If conventional monitoring methods are used, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability of timely intervention for postpartum depression deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidreliability of timely intervention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary monitoring of stress levels through ethylene glycol detection during pregnancy, enabling early identification of women at risk for postpartum depression before the condition develops, thereby improving reliability of timely intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where continuous stress monitoring data is analyzed and used to trigger alerts and interventions when threshold values are exceeded, improving the reliability of timely response while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If subjective stress reporting is used, then the information processing is simple, but the loss of objective stress data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation processing complexityVSAvoidobjective stress data

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective information reporting with objective sensor-based detection of ethylene glycol concentrations, eliminating the loss of objective stress data while keeping information processing manageable through automated analysis algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This approach allows for objective monitoring of stress in expectant women, reducing the risk of postpartum depression by providing timely alerts and interventions based on measurable stress indicators.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring, via a network, biological gas information representing a concentration of ethylene glycol of a user detected with a sensor for detecting ethylene glycol released from a skin surface of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11399756B2Information provision method, information processing system, information terminal, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

In order to objectively grasp a stress state of a user and to prevent postpartum depression, biological gas information is acquired via a network, where the biological gas information indicates a concentration of ethylene glycol of the user and is obtained by a sensor that detects ethylene glycol released from a skin surface of the user. From a memory storing information including an upper limit of a normal range of the concentration of ethylene glycol per unit period, the information indicating the upper limit of the normal range is read out. When a frequency in the unit period with which the concentration of ethylene glycol of the user exceeds the upper limit of the normal range is determined to have an increasing tendency based on the biological gas information obtained during a pregnancy period of the user, the information related to stress of the user is output to an information terminal of the user.