Handheld PTT Measurement via EKG and Video Signal Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring blood pressure and pulse transit time are invasive, cumbersome, and painful, especially with repeated use, making them unsuitable for continuous monitoring and compliance in managing hypertension, a significant public health issue.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device that records an electrocardiogram and captures images to determine pulse transit time using noise-reduced signal processing techniques, combining electrical and mechanical measurements for non-invasive, incidental blood pressure and heart rate tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional blood pressure measurement methods are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but user comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasive and cumbersome procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical blood pressure measurement systems (sphygmomanometers requiring manual inflation and reading) with an automated electronic system that uses a pressure sensor and microprocessor to automatically measure and display blood pressure, eliminating the need for manual operation and improving both accuracy and ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cuff as an intermediary element that non-invasively applies pressure to the arm and contains a pressure sensor to detect blood pressure values, serving as a mediator between the user's body and the measurement system without requiring direct invasive contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If repeated blood pressure measurements are taken, then monitoring capability is improved, but user compliance deteriorates due to pain and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidcompliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces painful invasive measurement methods with a non-invasive electronic system that uses automated sensing and processing, allowing repeated measurements to be taken quickly and painlessly, thereby maintaining monitoring reliability while significantly improving user compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service functionality where the device automatically inflates the cuff, takes the measurement, processes the data, and displays the result without requiring user intervention or discomfort, enabling users to perform repeated measurements independently and painlessly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If manual blood pressure measurement procedures are used, then measurement capability is improved, but time consumption and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood pressure measurement capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual measurement procedures with an automated electronic system that uses a pressure sensor, microprocessor, and display to automatically measure and present blood pressure values, reducing measurement time from several minutes to seconds while maintaining or improving accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically inflating the cuff to the required pressure and systematically processing the measurement data through algorithms before display, eliminating the need for manual setup and calculation steps and thereby improving measurement speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 non-invasive, consumer-friendly, and reliable tracking of blood pressure and heart rate, improving compliance and monitoring capabilities, particularly for short-term activity effects, without the discomfort of traditional devices.

Implementation Method 1

recording an electrocardiogram for a user of the handheld device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrocardiogram: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 2

The electrocardiogram is filtered for noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 3

determining a pressure wave based on an image of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure wave: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 4

The image is filtered for noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS9504391B2Determining pulse transit time non-invasively using handheld devices

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A system and method to determine pulse transit time using a handheld device. The method includes generating an electrocardiogram (EKG) for a user of the handheld device. Two portions of the user's body are in contact with two contact points of the handheld device. The method also includes de-noising the EKG to identify a start time when a blood pulse leaves a heart of the user. The method further includes de-noising a plurality of video images of the user to identify a pressure wave indicating an arterial site and a time when the pressure wave appears. Additionally, the method includes determining the PTT based on the de-noised EKG and the de-noised video images.