Magnetic Microwire Sensor for Non-Contact Respiratory Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-contact respiratory monitoring methods are either inaccurate, time-consuming, or require sophisticated technology, while contact-based methods, although more accurate, suffer from the limitations of being invasive. There is a need for a reliable, fast, and cost-effective method to monitor respiratory rate and pattern for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact respiratory monitoring system utilizing a magnetic microwire coil sensor that magnetically couples with a magnet on the patient's chest, detecting changes in impedance due to breathing motions, allowing for real-time monitoring without physical contact. The sensor uses a high-quality melt-extracted amorphous microwire coil with a specific composition and configuration to sense small magnetic fields, leveraging the giant magneto-impedance effect for high-frequency sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-contact methods (radar, optical, thermal imaging) are used for respiratory monitoring, then patient comfort is improved, but measurement precision and ease of operation deteriorate due to sophisticated technology requirements and high error rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical, radar, or thermal imaging systems with a simple magnetic field-based sensing system. A magnet is attached to the patient's chest, and a magnetic microwire coil sensor detects chest wall motion through magnetic coupling, eliminating the need for sophisticated optical or electromagnetic wave-based systems while maintaining non-contact operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the giant magneto-impedance effect, where the impedance of the magnetic micrawire coil changes dramatically in response to small variations in magnetic field strength caused by chest wall motion. This parameter change approach allows detection of subtle respiratory movements with high precision using a simple sensor configuration.
2Measurement precision
If contact-based methods (impedance pneumography, RIP) are used for respiratory monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to invasive contact requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based electrical impedance measurement with non-contact magnetic field sensing. Instead of measuring electrical impedance changes through skin electrodes, the system uses magnetic coupling between a chest-mounted magnet and an external sensor to detect respiratory motion, eliminating skin contact while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnet as an intermediary carrier that attaches to the patient's chest and transmits motion information to the external sensor through magnetic field variations. This intermediary approach allows indirect measurement of chest wall motion without direct contact between the sensor and patient skin.
3Ease of operation
If sophisticated non-contact technology (radar, optical instruments) is used, then patient comfort is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical, radar, or thermal imaging systems with a simple magnetic field-based sensing system. A magnet is attached to the patient's chest, and a magnetic micrawire coil sensor detects chest wall motion through magnetic coupling, eliminating the need for sophisticated optical or electromagnetic wave-based systems while maintaining non-contact operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive components: a simple magnet and a magnetic micrawire coil sensor. These components are low-cost, easily manufactured, and do not require complex processing or maintenance, making the system economically viable compared to sophisticated optical or radar systems.
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 system provides accurate, real-time respiratory monitoring with high sensitivity to small magnetic fields, effectively differentiating between normal and abnormal breathing patterns, including those associated with conditions like sleep apnea and heart failure, without the need for physical contact, thus overcoming the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic micrawire sensor coil is positioned a distance from the magnet such that the magnetic micrawire sensor coil is magnetically coupled to the magnet
Implementation Method 2
leveraging the giant magneto-impedance effect for high-frequency sensitivity
Implementation Method 3
An alternating voltage across the magnetic micrawire sensor coil is modified by a change in impedance of the magnetic micrawire sensor coil caused by the change in the distance of the magnet from the magnetic micrawire sensor coil
Data Source
AI summary
A non-contact respiratory monitoring system comprises a magnetic microwire sensor coil that detects magnetic field changes due to motion of a magnet attached to a patient's chest. Field lines emanating from the magnet are parallel to a circumferential loop area of the coil and the coil is positioned at a distance to magnetically couple to the magnet. Impedance in the coil changes when the distance of the magnet to the coil changes due to the patient's breathing. An alternating voltage across coil is modified by the change in impedance. An impedance analyzer coupled to the coil applies the alternating voltage and measures the impedance changes. A computer system controls operation of impedance analyzer, receives respiratory monitoring information based on the coil's impedance changes from the impedance analyzer, and generates a graphical display of the respiratory monitoring information.