Multispectral GI Bleeding Sensor for Fecal Interference Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, such as fecal occult blood testing and endoscopy, are hindered by interference from fecal matter, making timely detection of GI hemorrhage challenging, especially post-surgically, and pose additional risks to patients.
Innovation Solution
A bleeding sensor that uses an optical mechanism with multiple light emitters emitting different primary wavelengths and a central detector, combined with a gap and optical cap, to detect blood while minimizing interference from fecal matter and other obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If optical detection is used to detect blood in GI tract, then detection speed is improved, but interference from fecal matter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection system is segmented into multiple independent wavelength channels, each detecting specific blood components. By dividing the detection into separate wavelength segments (e.g., 530nm for oxyhemoglobin, 560nm for deoxyhemoglobin, 630nm for carboxyhemoglobin), the system can process each segment independently and combine results to achieve accurate blood detection while filtering out fecal interference through spectral differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spectrum are assigned different detection functions. Specific wavelength bands are optimized for detecting particular blood components (oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin), while other bands are used to identify and eliminate fecal matter signals. This local spectral quality assignment enables the system to distinguish blood from fecal interference in the GI tract environment.
2Measurement precision
If multiple wavelengths are used to reduce interference, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor is designed with multi-functionality, where a single device structure performs multiple detection tasks simultaneously. The same optical path and detector array used for blood component detection also detect fecal matter signatures, allowing the system to differentiate between blood and interference without requiring separate dedicated sensors for each function. This universal design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple wavelength detection channels are merged into a single integrated sensor head with combined optical emitters and detectors. The system combines signals from multiple wavelengths and processes them through unified algorithms to simultaneously identify blood components and eliminate fecal interference, reducing the need for separate physical sensor modules and simplifying the overall device architecture.
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 practical and rapid detection of GI hemorrhage by distinguishing between blood and fecal matter, facilitating early intervention and reducing patient risk through non-invasive, real-time monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The at least two light emitters are each configured to emit light of different primary wavelengths... Emitting, by the at least two light emitters, the light of the different primary wavelengths through the contents of the patient's gastrointestinal tract
Implementation Method 2
detecting, by the centrally-located light detector, the light of the different primary wavelengths emitted from the at least two light emitters through the contents of the patient's gastrointestinal tract... The blood is detectable in the contents of the patient's gastrointestinal tract based on light signals detected by the centrally-located light detector
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods that can employ a bleeding sensor that uses an optical mechanism to detect blood in the patients GI tract are described. The bleeding sensor includes a substrate holding a centrally-located light detector with a broad sensitivity spectrum and at least two light emitters positioned radially around the centrally-located light detector, each light emitter configured to emit light of different primary wavelengths. The bleeding sensor has a gap between each of the at least two light emitters and the centrally-located light detector that accepts the contents of a patients gastrointestinal tract. An optical cap covers the centrally-located light detector and the at least two light emitters to direct the light emitted from the at least two light emitters through the gap and onto the centrally-located light detector.