Eyelid Sensor Drowsiness Detection for Radiation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing drowsiness in patients undergoing long treatment sessions, such as SBRT or IMPT, lack an objective system for detecting drowsiness, relying on subjective monitoring and potentially leading to delayed or inaccurate treatments due to patient drowsiness.
Innovation Solution
A drowsiness warning system comprising sensor units mounted on the eyelids to measure the distance and duration of eyelid proximity, a control unit to determine drowsiness, and an output unit to generate alerts and prevent drowsiness through sound, light, or vibration signals, with the option to stop treatment equipment operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an infrared camera is used to monitor breathing pattern, then the patient can be observed during treatment, but there is no objective system for judging drowsiness state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical monitoring system (infrared camera observing breathing) with an electrical sensing system. Sensors mounted on eyelids directly measure eyelid distance and convert it to electrical signals, providing objective drowsiness detection without complex imaging equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system uses the patient's own eyelid movement as the detection mechanism. By mounting sensors directly on the eyelids, the system leverages the natural physiological movement (eyelid closing) to generate the measurement signal, eliminating the need for external observation equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If treatment time is extended to 1-2 hours for gating treatment, then treatment accuracy is improved, but patient drowsiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors eyelid distance and provides real-time feedback about drowsiness state. When the eyelid distance indicates drowsiness (maintained short distance for predetermined time), the system triggers warnings or treatment pauses, creating a closed-loop control that prevents drowsiness-related errors while maintaining treatment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects drowsiness trends before they lead to treatment errors. By monitoring eyelid closure duration and triggering warnings in advance, the system prevents posture changes and positioning errors that would compromise treatment accuracy, allowing corrective action before harm occurs.
3Device complexity
If subjective judgment by monitoring staff is used to detect drowsiness, then no additional equipment is needed, but drowsiness detection is delayed and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the patient's own eyelid movement as the detection mechanism. By mounting sensors directly on the eyelids, the system leverages the natural physiological movement (eyelid closing) to generate the measurement signal, eliminating the need for external observation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical monitoring system (infrared camera observing breathing) with an electrical sensing system. Sensors mounted on eyelids directly measure eyelid distance and convert it to electrical signals, providing objective drowsiness detection without complex imaging equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A drowsiness warning system is disclosed. Specifically, the drowsiness warning system includes a first sensor unit configured to be mountable on any one of upper eyelids or lower eyelids of a subject being examined under treatment by using treatment equipment, a second sensor unit configured to be mountable on the other one of the upper eyelids or the lower eyelids of the subject being examined, an output unit configured to generate a drowsiness preventing signal for preventing drowsiness of the subject being examined, anda control unit configured to determine a drowsy state of the subject being examined, based on a distance between the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, wherein, when the distance is maintained for a predetermined time or more in a state of being shorter than a predetermined distance, the control unit is further configured to determine that the subject being examined is in the drowsy state, and control the output unit to transmit a drowsiness preventing signal to the subject being examined.