Biological Information Monitor Threshold Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood pressure monitor apparatuses that combine pulse wave propagation time and noninvasive blood pressure measuring units frequently activate the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit, leading to a significant burden on patients due to sensitivity in detecting changes in estimated blood pressure values, making it difficult to set an adequate detection threshold.

Innovation Solution

A biological information monitor that includes a pulse wave propagation time measuring unit, a blood pressure measuring unit, a calculating unit to estimate blood pressure, a threshold setting unit, and a determining unit to compare the estimated blood pressure with set thresholds, activating the blood pressure measuring unit at specific intervals or upon operator operation, reducing frequent activations and thus the patient burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit is frequently activated to detect changes in estimated blood pressure values, then the sensitivity of blood pressure monitoring is improved, but the burden on the patient increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity of blood pressure monitoringVSAvoidburden on the patient
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by activating the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously or frequently. The control unit determines activation timing based on elapsed time since the last activation, ensuring measurements occur periodically when clinically relevant changes are likely to be detected, thereby reducing patient burden while maintaining monitoring sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the activation threshold and time interval parameters of the blood pressure measuring unit based on patient condition and clinical context. The control unit modifies these parameters to optimize the balance between detection sensitivity and patient comfort, activating measurements only when necessary based on changing physiological parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the detection threshold is set low to enhance sensitivity, then the ability to detect blood pressure changes is improved, but the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit is activated too frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidmeasurement frequency efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing periodic action with predetermined time intervals between activations. This ensures that even with a sensitive detection threshold, the system does not activate too frequently by enforcing time-based constraints on measurement frequency, thus maintaining detection capability while improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where the control unit monitors both the estimated blood pressure values and the timing of previous measurements. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts whether to activate the measuring unit, considering both the detection threshold and the elapsed time since the last measurement, thereby optimizing the balance between sensitivity and measurement frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit is activated at predetermined time intervals, then the patient burden is reduced, but the responsiveness to sudden blood pressure changes may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient burdenVSAvoidresponsiveness to blood pressure changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the activation interval adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the time interval between activations based on patient condition, increasing frequency when instability is detected and decreasing it when stable, thereby maintaining responsiveness to sudden changes while minimizing patient burden during stable periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from continuous pulse wave propagation time monitoring to detect sudden blood pressure changes between scheduled measurements. When such changes are detected, the feedback triggers an immediate activation of the noninvasive blood pressure measuring unit, ensuring rapid responsiveness while maintaining predetermined intervals during stable conditions to reduce patient burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2289405B1Biological information monitor
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP2289405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2289405B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2289405B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A biological information monitor includes: a first measuring unit which measures a pulse wave propagation time of a patient; a second measuring unit which measures a blood pressure of the patient; a calculating unit which calculates an estimated blood pressure value of the patient based on the pulse wave propagation time of the patient; a setting unit which sets a threshold; and a determining unit which compares the estimated blood pressure value with the threshold. The second measuring unit is activated to measure the blood pressure of the patient at least one of at time intervals and at a time when an operator operates the second measuring unit, and the second measuring unit is activated to measure the blood pressure of the patient by the determining unit based on the comparison result.