Multi-sensor Patch for Maternal Fetal Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biopotential monitoring systems for maternal and fetal patients face challenges such as signal loss due to vernix caseosa and skeletal EMG noise, limited ability to detect contraction strength, and delayed real-time data due to intensive signal processing.

Innovation Solution

A multi-sensor patch that combines biopotential electrodes with auxiliary sensors like optical sensors, microphones, accelerometers, and strain gauges to enhance monitoring of maternal and fetal physiological parameters, including heart rates and uterine activity, with improved real-time data availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If biopotential electrodes are used for maternal and fetal monitoring, then heart rate and uterine activity can be detected, but signal loss occurs due to vernix caseosa and skeletal EMG noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection reliabilityVSAvoidsignal interference from vernix and EMG noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor types (biopotential electrodes, optical sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges) into a single integrated monitoring patch. This merging allows the system to detect multiple physiological parameters simultaneously and provides redundant measurement channels that can compensate for signal loss from vernix caseosa or EMG noise interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces auxiliary sensors (optical sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges) as intermediaries to indirectly detect physiological parameters. For example, optical sensors can detect fetal heart rate through light absorption, and strain gauges can measure uterine contractions through mechanical deformation, providing alternative measurement paths that bypass the harmful interference affecting electrical signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If intensive signal processing is used to separate fECG from mECG, then measurement precision is improved, but real-time data availability is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefECG separation precisionVSAvoidreal-time data delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing tasks across multiple sensors and processing levels. Each sensor type captures different aspects of physiological data, and the system processes these segmented data streams independently before integrating them. This allows for more efficient processing that maintains real-time availability while achieving precise separation of fetal and maternal signals through multi-parameter analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple auxiliary sensors are added to the patch, then monitoring robustness and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring robustnessVSAvoidsensor integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the monitoring patch with a universal processing architecture that can handle multiple sensor types (electrical, optical, mechanical) through a common data processing framework. This multi-functional design allows the system to accommodate various sensor configurations without requiring separate processing pipelines, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity despite adding multiple auxiliary sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 multi-sensor patch provides more robust and accurate monitoring of maternal and fetal health by addressing signal loss and contraction strength detection limitations, while enabling real-time or near real-time data processing, particularly during critical medical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

An optical sensor is provided in the flexible substrate. The optical sensor is configured to detect photosignal data from the maternal and/or fetal abdomen.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

A conductive layer of the flexile substrate providing an electrical connection between each of the plurality of electrode regions and the center region.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS12274555B2Multi-sensor patch

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

A method of sensing the heart rate and blood oxygen saturation of a maternal patient and a fetal patient can include obtaining maternal electrocardiogram (mECG) data and fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) data with a plurality of electrodes. The method can also include obtaining photosignal data with an optical sensor, the photosignal data including a maternal photosignal component and a fetal photosignal component. Additionally, the method can include applying mECG to the photosignal data to calculate maternal photoplesthograph (mPPG) data, applying the mPPG to the photosignal data to remove the maternal photosignal component from the photosignal data, and applying the fECG to remaining photosignal data to calculate fetal photoplesthograph (fPPG) data.