Multi-Modal Sensor System for Lung Function Protocol Adherence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current healthcare systems lack effective methods to precisely track and enforce adherence to clinical protocols over time, particularly in lung function-related protocols, leading to adverse events such as ventilator-associated pneumonia due to inadequate monitoring and feedback mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that classify lung function risk, generate alarms and incentives for protocol compliance, determine the orientation and position of clinical devices, monitor patient interaction, identify deviations from protocols, and provide proportional feedback and alarms to ensure adherence, utilizing a combination of sensors and reasoning engines for real-time intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single modality sensing systems (RFID, infrared, manual input) are used to track clinical protocols, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of protocol adherence tracking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (RFID, infrared, pressure, optical, audio, video) into an integrated sensing system that works together to comprehensively monitor protocol adherence. This multi-modal approach resolves the contradiction by merging simple individual sensors into a complex but coordinated system that achieves high measurement precision without requiring each component to be overly complex
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - tracking device location, monitoring patient condition, detecting protocol deviations, and providing feedback. This multi-functional approach allows the system to achieve high measurement precision across multiple parameters without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Reliability
If comprehensive multi-sensor systems are deployed to accurately monitor protocol adherence, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into independent functional modules - RFID tags for identification, pressure sensors for contact detection, optical sensors for position tracking, and reasoning engines for analysis. Each module operates semi-independently, allowing the system to achieve high reliability through modular redundancy while keeping individual component complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reasoning engine as an intermediary that processes data from multiple sensors and translates it into meaningful protocol adherence assessments. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex logic, allowing simpler sensor components to work together effectively
3Productivity
If real-time feedback and alarm systems are implemented to enforce protocol compliance, then protocol adherence improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback and alarm system operates periodically rather than continuously - sensors take measurements at scheduled intervals and the reasoning engine processes data at defined checkpoints. This periodic operation maintains high protocol compliance through timely feedback while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service feedback to patients and providers through portable devices and display interfaces, enabling them to self-correct protocol deviations without constant system intervention. This reduces the energy burden on the central monitoring system while maintaining high compliance rates through empowered users
4Reliability
If frequent protocol monitoring and feedback are provided to ensure compliance, then protocol adherence improves, but loss of time for clinical activities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor protocol execution and the reasoning engine provides real-time feedback to patients and providers. This automated feedback mechanism ensures consistent protocol execution without requiring manual monitoring time, as the system self-regulates and notifies stakeholders only when intervention is needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual protocol monitoring and documentation with automated electronic sensing and reasoning systems. This substitution eliminates the time loss associated with manual charting and observation, as the electronic system automatically captures and analyzes protocol adherence data without requiring clinical staff time
Data Source
AI summary
An example method includes: classifying lung function risk based on patient attributes and a clinical protocol; generating alarms and incentives for compliance with the clinical protocol based on patient attributes, clinical protocol, and patient lung function risk; determining an orientation and position of a clinical device based on tagged feature(s) of the clinical device compared to identified patient feature(s); monitoring patient interaction with the clinical device; identifying a deviation from the clinical protocol based on the monitored patient interaction, a patient biometric indicator, and a desired setpoint state in the protocol; when a deviation is identified, providing feedback proportional to the deviation, the feedback including an adjustment with respect to the clinical protocol and/or the clinical device; and triggering at least one alarm and/or incentive based on deviation and feedback, wherein the alarm/incentives differs based on whether and to what extent deviation is identified and feedback.