Flexible Arteriovenous Pressure Probe with Liquid-Filled Balloon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional arteriovenous pressure measurement devices are invasive, time-consuming, and inaccurate, especially when measuring curved areas like the forearm or lower leg, due to the limitations of disk-like silicone objects used in noninvasive venous pressure measurement devices.
Innovation Solution
A noninvasive arteriovenous pressure measurement device with a flexible container filled with liquid, allowing for ultrasound permeability, and an advancing and retreating mechanism, which includes a pressing button and a fluid passage with back-pressure regulation, enabling accurate measurement of both arterial and venous pressure by fitting well to curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a disk-like silicone object is used for noninvasive venous pressure measurement, then the measurement can be performed without needle puncture, but accurate measurement cannot be achieved when the vein is present in a greatly curved portion because the silicone object is not entirely in contact with the body surface
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing part is designed with a curved surface that matches the curvature of the body surface, allowing the ultrasound probe to maintain full contact with curved anatomical regions. This curvature adaptation enables accurate pressure measurement on greatly curved portions such as the forearm or front of the lower leg, resolving the limitation of flat disk-like silicone objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing part utilizes a flexible membrane structure that can conform to the body surface contours. This flexible design allows the pressing part to adapt to various curvatures while maintaining intimate contact with the skin, ensuring accurate ultrasound transmission and pressure measurement on curved surfaces.
2Measurement precision
If the disk-like silicone object is pressed against the skin, then venous pressure can be measured, but the thin silicone object can be brought into direct contact with the ultrasound probe or pressure sensor, causing variation in the measured values
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid medium (gel or liquid) is introduced between the pressing part and the ultrasound probe/pressure sensor. This intermediary fluid layer prevents direct contact between the thin silicone object and the probe components, eliminating measurement variations caused by direct contact while still allowing accurate pressure transmission for venous pressure measurement.
3Measurement precision
If invasive measurement methods with needle puncture or catheter insertion are used, then accurate arteriovenous pressure measurement can be achieved, but the measurement takes considerable time and may cause delayed treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The invasive mechanical puncture and catheter insertion process is replaced with a noninvasive ultrasound-based measurement system. The pressing part applies external pressure while ultrasound imaging and pressure sensors simultaneously measure arteriovenous pressure, eliminating the time-consuming invasive procedure while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasound probe is designed to perform multiple functions: visualizing blood vessels, guiding the pressing part, and simultaneously measuring pressure. This multi-functionality allows rapid arteriovenous pressure measurement without requiring separate invasive procedures, significantly reducing measurement time for emergency medical care.
4Measurement precision
If invasive treatments are used for arteriovenous pressure measurement, then accurate measurement can be obtained, but risks of cardiovascular damage, bleeding, bloodstream infection, pneumothorax, and hemothorax occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invasive mechanical puncture and catheter insertion are completely replaced by a noninvasive external pressing and ultrasound imaging system. This substitution eliminates all risks associated with blood vessel puncture including cardiovascular damage, bleeding, bloodstream infection, pneumothorax, and hemothorax, while maintaining the ability to accurately measure arteriovenous pressure.
5Measurement precision
If invasive measurement methods are used, then pressure measurement can be performed, but the patient is basically hooked up to a drip route and may have difficulties in moving around
Solution Approach 1:
The invasive catheter and drip route are extracted and replaced by an external noninvasive pressing device. This allows the patient to remain mobile and unrestricted while the pressing part is simply placed on the skin surface for measurement, eliminating the need to be hooked up to infusion equipment.
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
Enables rapid and accurate measurement of arteriovenous pressure, reducing measurement time to a fraction of conventional methods and improving accuracy by ensuring proper contact with curved areas, allowing for immediate prediction of arterial and venous pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a probe (20) for radiating ultrasound toward a blood vessel in the skin
Implementation Method 2
to obtain echo signals from reflected ultrasound
Implementation Method 3
the flexible container (31) being made of a flexible material permeable to the ultrasound
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement device which allows noninvasive and accurate measurement of arteriovenous pressure, and also provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement method using the measurement device. The noninvasive arteriovenous pressure measurement device comprises a probe (20) for radiating ultrasound toward a blood vessel in the skin, a pressing part (10) for pressing the skin in a state of being placed between the skin and the probe (20), and a pressure sensor (33) for detecting a pressing force applied to the skin at the pressing part (10), the pressing part (10) having water (36) permeable to the ultrasound and a balloon (31) accommodating the water (36), the flexible container (31) being made of a flexible material permeable to the ultrasound, and an outer surface of the balloon (31) presses the skin.