Fistula Antenna Isolation Layer for Accurate Vascular Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vascular assessment devices face challenges in accurately determining blood flow in arteriovenous fistulas due to signal interference from the skin surface, leading to poor detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A vascular assessment device comprising an antenna unit with a substrate, transmitting and receiving antennas, and a circuit module, paired with a fabric unit featuring an isolating layer with a dielectric constant not greater than 3, which separates the antenna from the skin to improve signal transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the antenna is in direct contact with the patient's skin, then the signal transmission is simplified, but the signal quality deteriorates due to reflection off the skin surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fabric unit with specific dielectric properties as an intermediary layer between the antenna and the patient's skin. This fabric unit has a dielectric constant between 1.4 and 3.0, which is lower than that of human skin, allowing it to act as a mediator that reduces signal reflection and improves signal transmission to the fistula while maintaining a simple antenna configuration.
2Reliability
If the antenna is in direct contact with the skin, then signal transmission is direct, but the antenna is vulnerable to skin-related damage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric unit serves as a protective intermediary that shields the antenna from direct contact with the skin, preventing damage from perspiration, body oils, and other skin-related contaminants while still allowing effective signal transmission due to its optimized dielectric properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible fabric unit that can be sleeved over the antenna, providing physical protection while maintaining signal transmission. The fabric acts as a thin film barrier that separates the antenna from the skin environment without compromising the electromagnetic signal path.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective layer is added between the antenna and skin, then the antenna is protected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible fabric unit that can be easily sleeved over the antenna, providing protection without adding complex structural elements. The fabric's flexibility allows it to conform to the antenna shape and patient's body contours, maintaining simplicity in both design and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric unit is constructed from composite materials with specifically selected dielectric properties (dielectric constant between 1.4 and 3.0). This composite material approach allows the fabric to simultaneously provide protection, maintain signal transmission, and remain simple in structure.
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
Enhances detection accuracy by minimizing signal loss and interference, while protecting the antenna from skin-related damage and allowing for easy cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
The fabric unit has a dielectric constant that is not greater than 3
Implementation Method 2
the emitted carrier radio wave may be reflected off the skin surface and returned directly to the receiving antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A vascular assessment device includes an antenna unit and a fabric unit. The antenna unit includes a substrate, a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna spaced apart disposed on the substrate, and a circuit module disposed on the substrate. The circuit module cooperates with the transmitting antenna to emit a carrier radio wave toward a fistula of a subject, and receives, via the receiving antenna, a return wave signal formed through reflection of the carrier radio wave. The fabric unit is sleeved on the antenna unit, and includes an isolating layer adapted to be disposed between the transmitting antenna and the skin above the fistula. The fabric unit has a dielectric constant not greater than 3.