Multi-Displacement Optical Sensor for Tissue Penetration Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor devices require multiple devices with respective sensor/emitter displacements to achieve measurements at multiple penetration depths, which is costly, resource-intensive, and bulky, making it challenging to accurately measure blood flow through deeper tissue layers without signal interference from shallower layers.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with multiple emitters and sensors at different displacements, or a single sensor with multiple emitters and waveguides, allowing for various displacements between sensor/emitter pairs to achieve multiple penetration depths, reducing the need for multiple devices and improving measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensor devices are used to achieve measurements at multiple penetration depths, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor devices with different sensor-emitter displacements into a single integrated device. The housing contains multiple emitters at different positions and multiple sensors, allowing measurements at multiple penetration depths to be performed by a single device rather than requiring multiple separate devices. This merging approach maintains measurement precision while reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor device is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating sensors and emitters at various displacements. The device can measure penetration depths corresponding to different tissue layers (superficial, intermediate, and deep) using the same housing and control circuitry, making it a universal measurement tool that replaces multiple specialized devices.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensor devices are used to achieve measurements at multiple penetration depths, then measurement precision is improved, but device size and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a single compact device housing. By integrating multiple emitters and sensors within one housing structure, the overall device volume is reduced compared to using multiple separate devices. The shared housing, power supply, and control circuitry eliminate redundant components and reduce total resource consumption.
3Device complexity
If a single sensor device with multiple emitters and waveguides is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates waveguides that pre-position and guide light from emitters to sensors at precise displacements. The waveguides are manufactured with precise geometry to ensure accurate light transmission paths, thereby achieving the required manufacturing precision through dedicated light-guiding structures rather than relying solely on component placement accuracy.
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 accurate measurements at multiple penetration depths with a single device, reducing cost, size, and resource consumption while improving signal-to-noise ratio and measurement accuracy, particularly for deep tissue analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor device may include a set of sensor elements (e.g., optical sensors, spectral sensors, and/or image sensors) that capture the information
Implementation Method 2
A single sensor with multiple emitters and waveguides, allowing for various displacements between sensor/emitter pairs
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device may determine a first optical sensor value associated with a first displacement and a second optical sensor value associated with a second displacement, wherein the first displacement is between an emitter associated with the first optical sensor value and a sensing location used to determine the first optical sensor value, wherein the second displacement is between an emitter associated with the second optical sensor value and a sensing location used to determine the second optical sensor value, and wherein the first displacement is different from the second displacement. The sensor device may determine one or more measurements using the first optical sensor value and the second optical sensor value, wherein the one or more measurements relate to a first penetration depth associated with the first optical sensor value, and a second penetration depth associated with the second optical sensor value.