Load Cell Sensor for Ballistocardiogram and Weight Signal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional health devices for monitoring cardiovascular disorders require electrical current, which can be harmful and do not provide sufficient information for effective monitoring, especially in home and indoor settings.

Innovation Solution

A scale-type nonconstrained health condition evaluating apparatus using a load cell sensor for ballistocardiogram and weight signals, and an electrocardiogram sensor to measure heart rate, normalized stroke volume force, blood pressure, and equilibrium sense abnormality without flowing current, employing a signal processor for calculation and display of results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional health devices use electrical current to measure health conditions, then measurement capability is provided, but harmful effects on the measured person occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidharmful effects on measured person

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical current-based measurement with mechanical force measurement using load cell sensors. The load cell sensors detect ballistocardiogram signals by measuring mechanical forces exerted by the heart's pumping action on the body, eliminating the need for electrical current flow through the measured person while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces load cell sensors as intermediary devices that indirectly measure cardiovascular parameters through mechanical force detection. Instead of directly applying electrical current to the body, the system uses the load cell sensor to detect mechanical vibrations and forces generated by cardiac activity, providing a safe indirect measurement method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional health devices use simple measurement methods, then ease of operation is improved, but sufficient information for cardiovascular monitoring is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of measurementVSAvoidinsufficient cardiovascular information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the load cell sensor perform multiple functions: it simultaneously measures weight, ballistocardiogram signals, and electrocardiogram signals. This multi-functionality allows the device to provide comprehensive cardiovascular information (heart rate, blood pressure, stroke volume, etc.) through a single simple measurement process, eliminating the need for multiple separate measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines weight measurement and cardiovascular signal detection into a single integrated load cell sensor system. By merging these functions, the device achieves both operational simplicity and comprehensive information provision, as the same sensor platform captures multiple physiological parameters simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 safe and effective monitoring of cardiovascular health conditions at home and indoors, providing accurate calculations of heart rate, blood pressure, and equilibrium sense abnormality without the risks associated with electrical current, facilitating continuous health monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

a load cell sensor for sensing a ballistocardiogram signal and a weight signal from a measured person

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBallistocardiogram:

Implementation Method 2

an electrocardiogram sensor for sensing an electrocardiogram signal from the measured person

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrocardiogram:

Data Source

PatentUS8983854B2Scale-type nonconstrained health condition evaluating apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION

AI summary

A scale-type nonconstrained health condition evaluating apparatus includes a load cell sensor for sensing a ballistocardiogram signal and a weight signal from a measured person, an electrocardiogram sensor for sensing an electrocardiogram signal from the measured person, and a signal processor for calculating at least one of the heart rate, normalized stroke volume force, blood pressure and equilibrium sense abnormality of the measured person from the ballistocardiogram, weight and electrocardiogram signals sensed by the load cell sensor and the electrocardiogram sensor.