Integrated Optical-Electrical Sensor for Aligned Health Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor devices struggle to perform multiple health-related measurements simultaneously and accurately due to spatial misalignment and temporal discrepancies, leading to imprecise correlations and increased uncertainty in measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor device integrating an optical sensor with additional sensors, such as temperature or electrical probes, within a shared housing or barrier, allowing for contemporaneous measurements on the same target area, reducing spatial and temporal uncertainties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate sensor devices are used to perform different health measurements, then measurement coverage is improved, but spatial misalignment and temporal discrepancies increase leading to reduced measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor devices into a single integrated device that can perform optical measurements, electrical measurements, and other health-related measurements simultaneously. The housing integrates multiple sensors including optical sensors with illuminators and detectors, electrical probes for impedance measurements, and other sensors for temperature or motion detection, all positioned to contact the target simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor device is designed to perform multiple functions through a single device. It can perform optical measurements (such as photoplethysmography), electrical measurements (such as impedance or resistivity measurements), and other health-related measurements all through one device that contacts the target, making it universally applicable for various health monitoring needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate sensor devices are used to perform different health measurements, then measurement variety is improved, but device complexity increases requiring multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate sensor devices into one integrated device. The housing contains multiple sensors including optical sensors with illuminators and detectors, electrical probes, and other sensors, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single unit that contacts the target simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with multi-functionality to perform optical measurements, electrical measurements, and other health-related measurements through a single integrated system, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining measurement variety.
3Ease of operation
If measurements are performed at different times using separate devices, then measurement flexibility is improved, but temporal discrepancies increase leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors in a single device that performs optical measurements, electrical measurements, and other measurements simultaneously when contacting the target. This eliminates temporal discrepancies between measurements while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control of when measurements are taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device enables continuous simultaneous measurement across multiple sensor types during a single contact event with the target. The device can continuously perform optical measurements, electrical measurements, and other measurements without interruption or separation, ensuring temporal consistency while allowing flexible measurement protocols.
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 accurate and precise determination of combined measurement values by ensuring simultaneous and aligned measurements, enhancing measurement accuracy and reducing the need for separate devices, thus improving the reliability of health-related parameter correlations.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor may include an illuminator to provide light and a detector to detect the light. The optical sensor may determine a measurement based on characteristics of the light after the light interacts with a target.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-sensor device may perform an optical measurement using an optical sensor of the multi-sensor device, where the optical measurement is performed when a surface of the multi-sensor device is in contact with a human body. The multi-sensor device may perform another measurement using at least one other sensor of the multi-sensor device, where the other measurement is performed when the surface of the multi-sensor device is in contact with the human body, where the other measurement is performed substantially contemporaneously with the optical measurement, and where the optical measurement and the other measurement relate to health parameters. The multi-sensor device may determine a combined measurement value based on the optical measurement and the other measurement.