Floormat Physiological Sensor Foot Contact Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current physiological monitoring devices face challenges in patient compliance due to discomfort, complexity, and variability in measurement accuracy, especially for chronic conditions like congestive heart failure (CHF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which require consistent and accurate measurement of vital signs and hemodynamic parameters over time.
Innovation Solution
A portable, easy-to-use 'floormat' device that measures multiple physiological parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, and thoracic fluid index, using integrated ECG, impedance, optical, and weight measurement systems, allowing for daily monitoring and transmission of data to a mobile device and web-based system for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrodes are attached to patient's skin for physiological monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but patient comfort and compliance deteriorate due to discomfort and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional skin-attached electrodes with foot-based electrical contacts. The mechanical system of attaching electrodes to skin is substituted with a simpler mechanical interface where the patient simply places their feet on contact points integrated into the floormat, eliminating adhesive applications and wire connections while maintaining electrical signal acquisition capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the floormat as an intermediary device between the patient and the monitoring system. The mat serves as a mediator that acquires physiological signals through foot contacts and transmits them to the monitoring system, eliminating the need for direct skin electrode attachment and complex wiring that patients must manage
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physiological parameters are measured simultaneously, then comprehensive monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple physiological measurement functions (ECG, impedance, weight) into a single integrated floormat device. The electrical contacts serve dual purposes for both ECG signal acquisition and impedance measurements, while the load cell simultaneously provides weight data, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the floormat with universal electrical contacts that serve multiple functions: acquiring ECG signals, measuring impedance for fluid status, and providing weight measurements. This multi-functionality allows a single device to perform comprehensive physiological monitoring without requiring separate specialized equipment for each parameter
3Measurement precision
If measurement location is changed for different physiological parameters, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement consistency deteriorates due to location variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions all electrical contacts and measurement interfaces at the same location - the patient's feet. This creates an equipotential measurement location where all physiological parameters (ECG, impedance, weight) are acquired from the same anatomical site, ensuring consistent positioning and eliminating variability that would arise from measuring different parameters at different body 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 floormat enhances patient compliance and accuracy by providing a simple, comprehensive monitoring solution that detects early signs of CHF and ESRD, potentially reducing hospital readmissions and improving disease management through daily, consistent data collection and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Known electrical or digital weight scales typically use a load cell, integrated into a Wheatstone Bridge circuit, to measure a patient's weight. In such devices, the load cell exhibits a small, force-dependent resistance changes when the patient steps on the scale.
Implementation Method 2
More advanced electrical or digital weight scales include stainless steel electrodes and associated circuitry to measure the patient's bioimpedance and/or bioreactance signals.
Implementation Method 3
an optical system including a light source and a photodetector
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-on physiological sensor (e.g. floormat) measures vital signs and various hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure and ECG waveforms. The sensor is similar in configuration to a common bathroom scale and includes electrodes that take electrical measurements from a patient's feet to generate bioimpedance waveforms, which are analyzed digitally to extract various other parameters, as well as a cuff-type blood pressure system that takes physical blood pressure measurements at one of the patient's feet. Blood pressure can also be calculated/derived from the bioimpedance waveforms. Measured parameters are transmitted wirelessly to facilitate remote monitoring of the patient for heart failure, chronic heart failure, end-stage renal disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and other degenerative diseases.