Flexible Wearable Pulse Oximeter Merging Transmission and Reflection Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulse oximetry technologies face limitations in measuring blood oxygen saturation accurately due to poor signal quality, particularly in reflection-mode pulse oximetry, and are restricted to specific anatomical locations, making it difficult to obtain reliable measurements on areas like the chest.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with a flexible housing equipped with light emitters and sensors that can emit and receive both reflective and transmissive optical signals, allowing for improved signal quality and accurate measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation and cuff-less blood pressure by partially surrounding anatomical structures near the chest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If reflection-mode pulse oximetry is used to enable diverse sensing locations, then sensing location versatility is improved, but signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both transmission-mode and reflection-mode pulse oximetry capabilities into a single wearable device. The device includes light emitters and light sensors arranged to capture both transmitted and reflected light signals simultaneously, merging the advantages of both modes to achieve both versatile sensing locations and high signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device is designed with multi-functional optical detection capabilities that can operate in both transmission and reflection modes. This universal design allows the device to function accurately across diverse anatomical locations while maintaining high measurement precision through dual-mode signal acquisition.
2Measurement precision
If transmission-mode pulse oximetry is used to achieve accurate SpO2 measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but sensing location flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges transmission-mode and reflection-mode pulse oximetry into a single device, allowing accurate SpO2 measurements through transmission mode while simultaneously enabling sensing at diverse locations through reflection mode capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device achieves universal applicability by incorporating both transmission and reflection detection modes, maintaining high SpO2 measurement accuracy across multiple anatomical locations including the chest, forehead, and extremities.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid housing is used to maintain device structure, then device structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different body contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible housing structure that can conform to various body contours while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible material allows the device to adapt to different anatomical surfaces such as the chest, abdomen, and extremities, ensuring stable contact and consistent optical signal acquisition across diverse locations.
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 wearable device enhances signal quality and accuracy of SpO2 and PPG measurements, enabling reliable and continuous monitoring of vital signs, including cuff-less blood pressure, over extended periods without the need for traditional cuff-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
light emitters and light sensors positioned on opposite sides of an anatomical structure such that the light from the light emitters passes through the anatomical structure
Implementation Method 2
measuring changes in light absorption in the blood under the skin
Implementation Method 3
reflection-mode pulse oximetry uses light emitters and light sensors on the same side of an anatomical area
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device for sensing vital signs includes a flexible housing, at least one light emitter attached to the flexible housing, the at least one light emitter configured to emit optical signals, and light sensors attached to the flexible housing. The light sensors are positioned on opposite sides of the at least one light emitter. The flexible housing is structured to attach to a skin surface and flex at least partially around an anatomical structure enabling the light sensors to receive both reflective and transmissive optical signals near a chest of a subject.