External Carotid Biosensing for Non-Invasive Cerebral Blood Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for Poor Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) are inadequate, as pharmacological approaches are contraindicated for hypertensive patients, mechanical interventions are inconvenient, and lifestyle modifications are hard to adhere to, leading to a need for an effective and adoptable solution to manage CBF and prevent debilitating dizziness and falls.
Innovation Solution
A wearable biosensing system that non-invasively measures CBF using biometric sensors, processes data to predict CBF parameters, and provides real-time alerts and coaching through audio and visual messages to prevent presyncope, syncope, and falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmacological approaches are used to increase blood pressure to reduce Poor Cerebral Blood Flow symptoms, then cerebral blood flow improves, but hypertensive patients face contraindication and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological intervention with a mechanical/wearable sensing system that monitors cerebral blood flow in real-time. The wearable device detects CBF parameters and provides alerts before presyncope or syncope events occur, enabling mechanical prevention rather than chemical treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary wearable monitoring system between the patient and the harmful outcome. This intermediary device detects early signs of CBF deterioration and provides coaching alerts to prevent syncope events, avoiding the need for direct pharmacological intervention that could harm hypertensive patients.
2Reliability
If mechanical interventions such as compression socks or airbag belts are used, then cerebral blood flow improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to daily inconvenience of donning and doffing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical interventions like compression socks and airbag belts with a lightweight wearable sensing device. This new device provides continuous CBF monitoring without requiring the user to don and doff heavy mechanical garments, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential monitoring function from cumbersome mechanical interventions. Instead of using full-body compression garments or airbag systems, the invention isolates the critical sensing function into a small wearable device that can continuously monitor CBF without the bulk and inconvenience of traditional mechanical interventions.
3Reliability
If lifestyle modifications such as increased exercise, dietary changes, and slowed transitions are implemented, then cerebral blood flow improves, but ease of operation worsens due to burden of behavior change adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback through the wearable device that monitors CBF and provides immediate coaching alerts when parameters indicate risk of presyncope or syncope. This automated feedback system replaces the need for patients to remember and adhere to complex lifestyle modifications, as the device itself provides real-time guidance on when and how to adjust behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the system to serve itself by using automated algorithms to interpret CBF data and generate coaching alerts without requiring patient judgment or memory. The wearable device autonomously monitors parameters, compares them against risk thresholds, and provides appropriate guidance, eliminating the burden of manual behavior change adherence.
4Ease of operation
If wearable biosensing system is used to non-invasively measure CBF, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision must be maintained for clinical accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical sensing mechanisms within the wearable device to detect CBF parameters non-invasively. By using light-based detection methods rather than invasive mechanical or electrical sensors, the system achieves both ease of operation (non-invasive wearable use) and measurement precision (accurate CBF parameter detection).
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 system effectively predicts and prevents CBF-related dizziness and falls by providing immediate alerts and coaching, enhancing user adherence and safety, particularly for the elderly.
Implementation Method 1
obtain, using the biometric sensor, biometric data relating to a blood flow waveform of one or more arteries near the target location
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed system provides a non-invasive method for measuring blood flow to the brain. It comprises a biometric sensor configured to be removably retained against an external surface of a skin portion of a target location of a user, and a processor and a memory storing computer instructions. The system obtains biometric data relating to a blood flow waveform of one or more arteries near the target location, determines a parameter indicative of a blood flow to the brain of the user based on the biometric data, and displays or transmits the parameter. The determination of the parameter involves performing computations using the biometric data and/or the blood flow waveform.