Modular Patient Data Acquisition With Common Sensor Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data acquisition systems in clinical practice are hindered by numerous sensor cables, which complicate patient movement, increase the risk of user errors, and require excessive material usage, making it difficult to adapt to changing patient situations.

Innovation Solution

A data acquisition system with a modular design that forms sensor groups through direct plug connections between physiological sensors and adapter cables, reducing cable complexity and enabling quick adaptation to different treatment scenarios by forming a tree-like cable structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensor cables are used to connect physiological sensors to the data acquisition unit, then patient data can be acquired from multiple sensors, but the cable complexity increases and patient movement is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to acquire data from multiple sensorsVSAvoidcable complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple physiological sensors are connected in parallel to a single common connector, merging multiple cable connections into one. This allows the data acquisition unit to receive signals from multiple sensors through a single cable connection, reducing cable complexity while maintaining the ability to acquire data from multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common connector is designed to universally accept multiple physiological sensor connections, enabling a single cable to serve multiple sensing functions. This multi-functional connector reduces the need for multiple specialized cable connections while maintaining versatility in data acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple individual cable connections are made between sensors and the data acquisition unit, then all sensor data can be transmitted, but the risk of user errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidrisk of user errors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensor connections are merged into a single common connector connection, reducing the number of plug-and-unplug operations required. This minimizes opportunities for user errors such as incorrect connections or accidental disconnections while maintaining complete data transmission from all sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensor cables are arranged in the vicinity of the patient, then comprehensive patient monitoring is enabled, but patient transport becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive patient monitoring capabilityVSAvoidpatient transport efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensor cables are merged into a single common connector cable, dramatically reducing the physical clutter around the patient. This enables comprehensive monitoring while improving patient transport efficiency by minimizing cable entanglement and obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If a traditional one-to-one connection structure is used between sensors and data acquisition slots, then each sensor has a dedicated connection, but the number of cables and plugs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededicated signal connectionVSAvoidnumber of cables and plugs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple one-to-one connections are merged into a one-to-many connection structure where a single common connector serves multiple sensors. This reduces the quantity of cables and plugs while maintaining reliable signal connections through the shared common connector interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250268473A1Data acquisition system for acquiring patient data and process for acquiring patient data

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

A data acquisition system (100) acquires patient data (105) of a patient (102) and includes a plurality of physiological sensors (110) for determining the patient data via electrodes (111a, 112a, 113a, 214a) and a data acquisition unit (130). At least two of the physiological sensors (111, 112) and/or adapter cables (371, 473) for the physiological sensor are signal connected to each other directly via a plug connection (115) and form a sensor group (116). The data acquisition unit includes at least one slot (132) for a plug connection (133) as a patient data interface. The patient data determined by the sensor group is output to the data acquisition unit via a common connector (120). The common connector is configured for a direct plug connection to the data acquisition unit, to a hub (250) for the data acquisition unit and/or to an adapter cable (371) for the data acquisition unit.