Integrated Pressure Sensing Assembly for Leak-Free Blood Pressure Cuffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods of manufacturing non-invasive blood pressure cuffs are complicated and prone to failure due to multiple components and the formation of holes in the semi-rigid shell, leading to potential leaks and unsupportive structures.
Innovation Solution
A pressure sensing assembly comprising a semi-rigid sheet with cavities and channels, an interfacial connector, and an impermeable film forming a fluid-tight seal, which reduces components and ensures a continuous leak-free fluid path for pressure sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hard shell is formed into a cone shape and a sensor pad assembly is positioned inside by rolling and feeding through a hole, then the assembly can be manufactured, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated and introduces multiple points of potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pad assembly is merged with the hard shell into a single integrated component. The sensor pad is formed as one piece with the hard shell rather than being separate components assembled together, eliminating multiple assembly steps and potential failure points at interfaces between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensing assembly is divided into distinct functional regions: a first cavity for receiving pressure sensing fluid, a second cavity for receiving a balloon, and a channel connecting them. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently while being formed as one integrated piece.
2Ease of operation
If a hole is formed in the semi-rigid shell to allow passage of components, then assembly is enabled, but the shell becomes unsupportive and requires filling
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pad assembly is nested within the hard shell structure. The sensor pad is formed as one piece with the hard shell, with cavities and channels integrated into the shell itself, eliminating the need for separate holes and maintaining shell integrity and supportiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in the pressure sensing assembly, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the number of potential failure points increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate components (hard shell, sensor pad, pressure sensing fluid container, balloon container) are merged into a single integrated sensor pad assembly formed as one piece. This reduces the number of components and interfaces while maintaining the functional flexibility needed for blood pressure measurement.
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 solution provides a robust, cost-effective, and reliable pressure sensing assembly with fewer components, reducing errors and potential failures, while maintaining a sealed fluid path for accurate pressure measurement.
Implementation Method 1
an impermeable film attached to at least a portion of the first surface of the semi-rigid sheet, wherein the impermeable film forms a fluid-tight seal over at least the first cavity, the second cavity, and the channel of the semi-rigid sheet
Implementation Method 2
filling the first cavity, the second cavity, and the channel of the semi-rigid sheet and the tube of the tube assembly with a first fluid to form the pressure sensing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to pressure sensing assemblies (100) for use in non-invasive blood pressure devices and to methods of manufacturing such pressure sensing assemblies. As described herein, the pressure sensing assemblies (100) include an impermeable film (130) covering one or more cavities (108, 110) and/or channels (112) that are formed within a semi-rigid sheet (102). An interfacial connector (114) may sit within at least one of the cavities (108, 110) and/or channels (112) and connect the one or more cavities and/or channels to a tube assembly (118) located outside of the pressure sensing assembly (100). A fluid flow path, including the cavities (108, 110) and/or channel (112), defined by the pressure sensing assembly (100) is filled with at least a first pressure sensing fluid and used to hydraulically translate pressure changes generated by an adjacent blood vessel to an associated pressure transducing assembly of the non-invasive blood pressure device.