Fluid Bladder Mattress Layer for Accurate Vital Sign Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vital sign monitoring devices, such as EKGs and BCGs, are expensive and cumbersome, making them unsuitable for home use or comfortable monitoring outside medical facilities, and newer devices with piezoelectric films or sensors can be hindered by padding layers that dampen pressure inputs, reducing detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A sleep monitoring system incorporating a mattress with a fluid bladder sandwiched between foam layers, allowing pressure waves from a user's heartbeats and breaths to propagate effectively to sensors for accurate vital sign detection, using a pressure sensor and controller to output signals for heart rate, respiration rate, and other vital signs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sensor is placed beneath the padding layer to provide comfort, then user comfort is improved, but the padding layer dampens pressure input and prevents proper detection of pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid bladder is introduced as an intermediary layer between the padding and the sensor. The bladder transmits pressure waves from the user's body through its fluid medium to the sensor, overcoming the damping effect of the padding layer while maintaining user comfort. The fluid medium allows pressure waves to propagate effectively to the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a fluid-filled bladder to transmit mechanical pressure waves. The hydraulic/fluid medium within the bladder serves as a transmission medium that conducts pressure changes from the padding layer to the sensor, enabling accurate detection while the sensor remains protected beneath the padding.
2Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring devices like EKG or BCG are used to ensure accurate vital sign detection, then measurement precision is improved, but the equipment becomes expensive and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified version of complex monitoring systems by using a pressure sensor with a fluid bladder that replicates the functionality of expensive EKG or BCG devices. The system copies the essential measurement capability (detecting vital signs through pressure changes) using much simpler and less expensive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, complex medical equipment with a simple, inexpensive pressure sensor and fluid bladder assembly. This simplified system achieves comparable functionality for vital sign monitoring at a fraction of the cost, making it suitable for home use rather than only clinical settings.
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 comfortable and accurate monitoring of vital signs by transmitting pressure changes through the mattress layers to sensors, improving detection accuracy and user experience while being more cost-effective and suitable for home use.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid bladder is beneath the first padding layer. A sensor is in fluid communication with the fluid bladder
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeping monitoring system includes a first padding layer. A fluid bladder is beneath the first padding layer. A sensor is in fluid communication with the fluid bladder. The sensor is configured to output a vital sign signal.