Light-Shielded Sensor Pad Housing for Accurate Patient Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient monitoring devices face challenges in providing accurate and comfortable measurements while ensuring sterility and minimizing external interference.
Innovation Solution
A patient monitoring device featuring a pad region with a cavity, a light-shielding layer, and an adhesive layer, designed to house a sensor unit and a cable, which enhances comfort, accuracy, and sterility by shielding light and ensuring secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor unit is attached to the patient for long periods to enable continuous monitoring, then measurement accuracy and patient assessment quality improve, but patient comfort deteriorates and sterility becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a sensor unit for measurements, a pad region for comfort and sterility barrier, and an adhesive layer for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the sensor unit for accuracy, the pad for comfort and sterility, and the adhesive for secure but gentle attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad region acts as an intermediary layer between the sensor unit and the patient's skin. This intermediate structure provides a sterile barrier that protects the patient while allowing the sensor to function, thus maintaining both sterility and comfort during prolonged attachment.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor unit is protected from outside interference to ensure accurate measurements, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses thin film structures including a light-shielding layer and adhesive layer that provide protection and functionality without adding significant complexity. The light-shielding layer is a simple thin film that blocks external light interference, while the adhesive layer provides secure attachment - both are straightforward implementations that don't substantially increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into integrated layers: the light-shielding layer simultaneously provides optical protection and structural support, while the adhesive layer provides both attachment and sealing functions. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the adhesive layer extends past the light-shielding layer to ensure secure attachment, then attachment reliability improves, but light shielding effectiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer extends in the lateral dimension beyond the light-shielding layer to provide secure attachment, while the light-shielding layer maintains its optical function in the optical dimension. This dimensional separation allows the adhesive to extend for reliability without compromising the light-shielding effectiveness, as the light-shielding layer remains intact in its designated area.
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 device provides improved comfort and accuracy for patients by shielding light and ensuring secure attachment, while maintaining sterility and reducing external interference.
Implementation Method 1
a first light-shielding layer, coupled to the pad region, where the first light-shielding layer has an opening that overlaps with at least a portion of the cavity
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive layer, coupled to the first light-shielding layer, where the adhesive layer extends past at least one edge of the first light-shielding layer
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible sensor pad includes a cavity to hold a sensor unit with an attached cable. According to one aspect of the present invention, a light-shielding layer is coupled to a bottom surface of the sensor pad, surrounds the sensor unit, and extends past two sides of the sensor pad. A transparent adhesive layer is coupled to the light-shielding layer and extends past two sides of the light-shielding layer. Another light shielding layer is coupled to a top surface of the sensor pad and covers the sensor unit. The cable divides the sensor pad into a first side and a second side which are mirror images of each other.