Gas Sensor System for Fecal Insult Location Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and locating fecal incontinence in care homes and hospitals are inaccurate and unreliable, often relying on visual inspection and odor detection, leading to delayed changes and unnecessary sanitary article consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using multiple gas sensors to detect hydrogen gas and other volatile organic compounds indicative of feces, with threshold values to confirm the presence and location of fecal insults, ensuring accurate and reliable detection by distinguishing between hydrogen gas and other potential sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple gas sensors are deployed to detect fecal insults in multiple locations, then the accuracy and reliability of detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection space is divided into multiple zones with sensors positioned at specific locations (e.g., near beds, toilets, sinks). Each sensor monitors its local zone, and the system determines the location of fecal insults based on which sensor detects the gas. This segmentation allows accurate localization without requiring complete coverage by a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas sensor system is designed to detect multiple types of gases simultaneously (hydrogen, volatile organic compounds, sulfur-containing gases) using a universal detection mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor platform to identify different components of fecal emissions, improving detection reliability without requiring separate specialized sensors for each gas type.
2Speed
If gas sensors detect hydrogen gas to locate fecal insults, then the detection speed is improved, but reliability decreases due to false positives from other hydrogen sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines detection of multiple gas types (hydrogen, volatile organic compounds, sulfur-containing gases) into a single integrated detection system. By requiring the simultaneous presence of multiple gas components to confirm a fecal insult, the system maintains the fast response of hydrogen detection while eliminating false positives from non-fecal hydrogen sources through corroborating evidence from other gas sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple gas sensors to validate hydrogen detections. When hydrogen is detected, the system checks for concurrent presence of other fecal indicator gases. This feedback mechanism confirms whether hydrogen detection corresponds to an actual fecal insult or a false positive source, thereby improving reliability while maintaining detection speed.
3Reliability
If nurses perform frequent visual inspections and odor detection to determine if sanitary articles need changing, then detection reliability is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The gas sensor system enables the environment to automatically detect and report fecal insults without requiring nurse intervention for routine monitoring. The system continuously monitors for gas emissions and automatically identifies when and where fecal insults occur, freeing nurses from manual inspection tasks while maintaining or improving detection reliability through continuous automated surveillance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of manual visual inspection and odor detection by nurses with automated electronic gas sensing. The sensors continuously monitor for fecal indicator gases and provide objective data-driven alerts, eliminating the need for frequent manual inspections while maintaining high detection reliability through continuous automated monitoring.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If sanitary articles are changed frequently according to fixed schedules, then patient comfort and skin health are improved, but loss of substance and cost increase due to unnecessary consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The gas sensor system detects fecal insults immediately when they occur, providing early warning before the insult becomes significant enough to cause skin damage or discomfort. This preliminary detection allows for timely changes of sanitary articles based on actual need rather than fixed schedules, preventing skin problems while avoiding unnecessary changes when no insult has occurred.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from time-based scheduling (changing articles at fixed intervals) to condition-based scheduling (changing articles when gas detection parameters indicate a fecal insult). By monitoring gas concentration levels and triggering changes only when thresholds are exceeded, the system optimizes the timing of article changes to match actual patient needs, reducing unnecessary consumption while maintaining skin health.
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 provides accurate and reliable detection of fecal insults, reducing manual inspection time, conserving sanitary articles, and improving patient comfort by pinpointing the exact location of the issue, thus optimizing resource allocation.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the concentration of at least one gas indicative of feces at a plurality of locations in a defined space
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the location (2a) of a fecal insult, comprising: detecting the concentration (c1) of at least one gas indicative of feces at a plurality of locations (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) in a defined space(1); and determining whether said concentration (c1) of said gas exceeds a predetermined first threshold value (cT2). The method comprises: detecting the concentration (c1) of hydrogen gas at each of said locations (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); detecting the concentration (c2)of at least one further gas component being indicative of feces in said space(1); and determining that a fecal insult has occurred in a location (2a) where said detected concentration (c1) of hydrogen gas exceeds said first threshold value(cT1), provided that the detected concentration (c2) of said further gas component also exceeds a predetermined second threshold value(cT2) in said location (2a).