Flexible Cuff Sensor for Korotkoff-Based Blood Pressure Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood pressure measurement techniques using oscillatory pressure changes in cuffs are not as accurate as desired, particularly for determining systolic and diastolic pressures.
Innovation Solution
A blood pressure measurement device incorporating a cuff with a piezoelectric sensor that detects blood flow changes, a processor to filter and correlate these sounds with bladder pressure, and a pressure sensor to measure bladder pressure, allowing for the determination of blood pressure metrics by identifying specific Korotkoff sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If oscillatory pressure changes are monitored in the cuff, then blood pressure metrics can be determined, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient for determining systolic and diastolic pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the blood flow sound information from the cuff signal using band-pass filtering. The processor identifies frequency ranges corresponding to Korotkoff sounds and separates them from other oscillatory pressure changes, thereby preserving the valuable blood flow information that was previously lost or obscured in the general oscillatory signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage that uses band-pass filters as mediators between the raw cuff signal and the blood pressure determination. These filters act as intermediaries to selectively transmit frequency components associated with blood flow sounds while blocking other frequencies, enabling more accurate systolic and diastolic pressure measurement.
2Quantity of substance
If the piezoelectric sensor detects all pressure changes in the cuff, then comprehensive signal data is obtained, but the signal contains noise that obscures blood flow sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant frequency components from the comprehensive signal data. By applying band-pass filters with specific frequency ranges, the system removes unwanted noise and isolates the blood flow sound frequencies, thereby maintaining signal data quantity while improving blood flow sound clarity through selective extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different filtering characteristics to different frequency regions of the signal. Rather than treating the entire signal uniformly, the system applies band-pass filtering that selectively enhances specific frequency bands where blood flow sounds occur, giving different quality treatment to different parts of the signal spectrum to improve overall measurement accuracy.
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 the accuracy of blood pressure measurement by isolating and correlating distinct sounds corresponding to blood flow changes, enabling precise estimation of diastolic and systolic pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric sensor coupled to the cuff, and operative to detect blood flow through the limb of the user
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a blood pressure measurement device including a cuff that is operative to wrap around a limb of a user, a bladder coupled to the cuff and operative to compress the limb of the user when inflated, and a piezoelectric sensor coupled to the cuff and operative to detect blood flow through the limb of the user and output a signal indicative of the blood flow. The blood pressure measurement device can also include a processor coupled with the piezoelectric sensor that is operative to filter the signal to isolate sounds corresponding to changes in the blood flow through the limb due to inflation of the bladder, correlate the isolated sounds with a pressure inside the bladder, and determine a blood pressure of the user at least partially based on correlating the isolated sounds with the pressure.