Finger Pulse Sensor Fusion for Cuffless Blood Pressure Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for non-invasive blood pressure measurement, such as cuff-based and cuffless techniques, face challenges in accuracy and efficiency, particularly in estimating blood pressure without the use of a cuff.
Innovation Solution
A bio-information estimating apparatus that measures pulse wave signals and contact force/area to derive feature values, using a sensor part with a pulse wave sensor and contact pressure sensor, and a processor to estimate blood pressure through oscillometric analysis and contact area changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cuff-based measurement method is used to measure blood pressure, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and user comfort deteriorate due to requiring a cuff
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the blood pressure measurement function from the traditional cuff-based system by using a finger-mounted sensor that directly contacts the finger. The pulse wave sensor, force sensor, and area sensor are integrated into a compact finger-mounted device, eliminating the need for a separate cuff while maintaining measurement capability through direct tissue contact and pulse wave analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The finger-mounted sensor serves multiple functions: it measures pulse wave signals, contact force, and contact area simultaneously. This multi-functional sensor integrates the capabilities previously distributed across cuff inflation mechanisms, pressure sensors, and pulse wave detectors, creating a unified device that performs blood pressure estimation without a cuff
2Device complexity
If cuffless measurement method is used to estimate blood pressure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple measurement parameters (pulse wave signal characteristics, contact force magnitude, and contact area) into a unified blood pressure estimation model. By combining these previously separate measurements taken by the integrated sensor, the system achieves accurate blood pressure estimation without requiring a cuff, resolving the accuracy issue of cuffless methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from real-time measurements of contact force and contact area to dynamically adjust and refine blood pressure estimation. The processor continuously monitors changes in contact parameters and pulse wave characteristics, using this feedback to improve estimation accuracy adaptively without requiring cuff inflation
3Measurement precision
If contact area and contact force measurements are integrated with pulse wave analysis, then blood pressure estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the pulse wave sensor, force sensor, and area sensor into a single integrated finger-mounted measurement unit. This consolidation allows simultaneous acquisition of pulse wave signals, contact force, and contact area data without requiring separate devices, maintaining simplicity while enabling multi-parameter analysis for improved blood pressure estimation
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
Improves the accuracy of blood pressure estimation by integrating contact force and area measurements with pulse wave analysis, providing reliable and cuffless blood pressure monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a pulse wave sensor including a light source configured to emit first light onto the object, and a detector configured to detect second light that is reflected from the object
Implementation Method 2
a contact pressure sensor including a force sensor configured to measure the contact force
Implementation Method 3
an area sensor configured to measure the contact area
Data Source
AI summary
A bio-information estimating apparatus includes a sensor part configured to measure a pulse wave signal from an object, a contact force that is applied by the object to the sensor part, and a contact area of the object that is applied to the sensor part, and a processor configured to obtain a first feature value, based on a first change in the contact area with respect to a second change in the contact force, obtain a second feature value, based on the pulse wave signal, and estimate bio-information, based on the first feature value and the second feature value.