Finger Probe Side-Positioning for Nail Polish Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing finger probes used to calculate physiological parameters, such as pulsation and arterial oxygen saturation, face challenges when nail polish or nail art is present, as it can absorb light beams, leading to inaccurate readings and potential delays in emergency situations, especially since removing such decorations is inconvenient and may not be feasible.
Innovation Solution
The probe is designed with a configuration where the light emitter and detector are positioned on the side faces of the finger, avoiding the nail area, and are continuously extended to the pad side, which suppresses ambient light entry, ensuring accurate calculations regardless of nail polish or nail art presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the light emitter and detector are positioned on the fingertip to measure physiological parameters, then the measurement function is achieved, but the nail polish or nail art absorbs light causing measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the measurement location from the fingertip surface (2D plane) to the side face of the finger (different spatial dimension), positioning the light emitter and detector to illuminate and detect light through the lateral aspect of the finger rather than through the nail. This dimensional shift eliminates interference from nail polish while maintaining physiological parameter measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If the light emitter and detector are positioned on the side face of the finger to avoid nail interference, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ambient light may enter and affect detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light shield as an intermediary element positioned between the ambient light source and the light detector. This shield acts as a mediator that selectively blocks harmful ambient light while allowing the measurement function to proceed, thereby resolving the contradiction between avoiding nail interference and preventing light contamination.
3Measurement precision
If the probe structure is extended to continuously connect the nail-side holding face and pad-side holding face, then ambient light suppression is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the nail-side holding face and pad-side holding face into a continuous, integrated structure. This consolidation creates an unbroken light-shielding barrier that effectively blocks ambient light while simplifying the overall probe design by eliminating the need for separate components or complex assembly mechanisms.
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 configuration allows for stable and accurate calculation of physiological parameters by positioning the light emitter and detector on the side faces of the finger, avoiding nail interference and ambient light, thus maintaining calculation accuracy without the need to remove nail polish or nail art.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam that is emitted from the light-emitting element, and that is transmitted through the living tissue of the fingertip
Implementation Method 2
The light beam emitted from the light-emitting element is determined to have a wavelength at which a light beam is to be absorbed by a material in blood
Implementation Method 3
the light beam emitted from the light-emitting element may be absorbed by coloring matter of the nail polish or the nail art
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A probe which is to be attached to a finger of a subject to acquire physiological parameter of the subject includes a light emitter that emits a light beam toward the finger, a light detector that outputs a signal corresponding to a light beam that is transmitted through or reflected from the finger, a first holding face that has a portion which is faced with a nail of the finger and another portion which is faced with a side face of the finger, and a second holding face that has a portion which is faced with a pad of the finger and another portion which is faced with the side face of the finger. In a state where the probe is attached to the finger, the first holding face and the second holding face are placed to be continuous to each other.