Handheld Stress Detection Using Camera-Based Blood Flow Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack efficient methods for objectively monitoring psychological stress outside a clinical setting and providing real-time stress assessment and treatment recommendations.
Innovation Solution
A portable, wireless device, such as a smartphone, equipped with a camera and processing capabilities, analyzes blood flow parameters like heart rate and heart rate variability to detect psychological stress and recommends interventions for stress mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable wireless device with camera is used to detect stress, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but measurement precision and reliability of stress detection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical stress detection equipment with a camera-based optical system. The camera captures blood flow changes through skin color variations, substituting traditional mechanical or electrical sensors with an optical measurement approach that uses the device's existing camera hardware to detect physiological changes associated with stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces blood flow as an intermediary parameter between stress and direct measurement. Instead of measuring stress directly, the system measures blood flow changes (through color variations in camera images) that are caused by stress, using this physiological intermediary to indirectly but accurately assess stress levels.
2Productivity
If real-time stress assessment is implemented, then productivity and responsiveness are improved, but use of energy and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by focusing the camera and processing only on specific regions of interest (such as facial areas with visible blood flow) rather than analyzing the entire image. This selective approach reduces computational load and energy consumption while maintaining real-time assessment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action by capturing images at specific intervals rather than continuous video processing. This periodic sampling approach maintains real-time monitoring capability while significantly reducing the energy and processing requirements compared to continuous analysis.
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 real-time stress assessment and personalized intervention recommendations, improving stress management and reducing health risks associated with chronic stress.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing one or more parameters associated with blood flow through one or more tissue regions that can be imaged by the device's camera
Data Source
AI summary
Stress assessment devices and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring an image of a user, recognizing a region of interest (ROI) in the image, analyzing the ROI to generate statistics, and determining a level of stress experienced by the user based on the statistics. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an image sensor that acquires an image of a user and a processor configured to perform operations that include recognizing a region of interest (ROI) in the image, analyzing the ROI to generate statistics, and determining a level of stress experienced by the user based on the statistics.