Flexible Oximeter Sensor Panel for Contoured Tissue Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oximeters have limitations in measuring oxygen saturation over large tissue areas due to their small scanning heads, rigid designs, and inability to accurately assess oxygenation on contoured surfaces, which can lead to discomfort and inaccurate readings, particularly in clinical settings where pressure ulcers may develop.
Innovation Solution
Development of flexible sensor panels with integrated oximeter and pressure sensors that can be applied to large areas, allowing for simultaneous measurement of oxygen saturation and pressure distribution, enabling accurate readings on contoured surfaces and early detection of tissue ischemia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid sensor head is used, then the structural strength is improved, but the comfort and adaptability to contoured surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing the traditional rigid sensor head with a flexible sensor panel that can conform to contoured body surfaces. The flexible substrate allows the sensor to adapt to various body shapes and contours, eliminating discomfort while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by making the sensor panel dynamically adaptable to different body contours through its flexible nature, allowing it to change shape and conform to the surface being measured, thereby improving comfort and contact accuracy.
2Device complexity
If a small scanning head is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement area coverage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by dividing the measurement function into multiple distributed sensor units across the flexible panel, allowing coverage of large body surfaces while keeping each individual sensor unit simple and manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by transitioning from a single-point measurement approach to a distributed two-dimensional array of sensor units, enabling coverage of large areas while maintaining simplicity through the modular flexible substrate design.
3Measurement precision
If a rigid flat sensor head is pressed against the body, then the measurement precision is improved, but the comfort and tissue contact accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible sensor panel that can conform to body contours, ensuring proper tissue contact across curved surfaces without causing discomfort, while maintaining measurement precision through consistent contact pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by allowing different regions of the flexible panel to adapt locally to the specific contours of the body surface, ensuring optimal contact and measurement precision at each location while maintaining overall comfort.
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 flexible sensor panels provide accurate and comfortable oxygen saturation measurements over large areas, reducing the risk of pressure ulcers by detecting compromised tissue regions early, thus improving patient monitoring and clinical diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
A source structure provides light to be transmitted into a tissue
Implementation Method 2
A detector structure collects or detects light that is scattered and reflected from the tissue
Implementation Method 3
A detector structure collects or detects light that is scattered and reflected from the tissue
Implementation Method 4
Light-absorption and light-scattering patterns differ significantly between deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobins at certain wavelengths of light
Implementation Method 5
In another embodiment, a sensor panel includes a flexible substrate and a number of oximeter sensor units and a number of pressure sensors connected to the flexible substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices monitor oxygen saturation levels in tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, a device is a sensor panel comprising a flexible substrate and a plurality of oximeter sensor units coupled to the substrate. In another aspect of the invention, the device is a sensor panel comprising a flexible substrate and a plurality of oximeter sensor units and a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to the substrate. Embodiments of the invention can be used to simultaneously measure oxygen saturation levels in many locations of a large tissue. Embodiments of the invention can be applied in diagnosing a medical condition involving a large tissue area where the oxygen saturation level is unstable.