Non-invasive Blood Pressure Cuff with Rigid Outer Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) devices using oscillometric methods are prone to inaccuracies due to external influences and take too long to inflate, especially in emergency situations where patient movement causes noise and interference in the signal, leading to delayed and potentially incorrect blood pressure measurements.
Innovation Solution
A NIBP measurement system with a blood pressure cuff featuring an outer portion that protects the inflatable cuff from external stimuli, combined with a noise reduction algorithm in the processing circuitry to filter out noise and a design that constrains the cuff's expansion to reduce inflation time, allowing for faster and more accurate blood pressure calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an oscillometric method is used for non-invasive blood pressure measurement, then training requirements are reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to external influences and patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid outer shell is introduced as an intermediary structure between the environment and the inflatable cuff. This shell acts as a mediator that blocks external forces (patient movement, shaking, seizures) from directly affecting the cuff and pressure sensor, thereby protecting measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid outer shell provides beforehand protection by preemptively blocking external harmful forces before they can reach the inflatable cuff and interfere with the oscillometric measurement, thus preventing measurement errors before they occur
2Productivity
If the cuff is inflated quickly to reduce time in emergency situations, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to patient movement and signal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid outer shell serves as a protective intermediary that allows rapid inflation to occur without transmitting patient movement and external shocks to the cuff, enabling both quick measurement (improved productivity) and accurate signal detection (maintained measurement precision)
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid shell provides beforehand protection during the rapid inflation process, cushioning the system against external disturbances that would otherwise corrupt the oscillometric signal during the critical measurement window
3Measurement precision
If the cuff is deflated completely for re-positioning during patient movement, then measurement precision can be restored, but loss of time increases due to deflation and re-inflation cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid outer shell provides continuous beforehand protection during the entire measurement cycle including re-positioning, allowing the cuff to remain inflated without being corrupted by patient movement, thus eliminating the need for deflation and avoiding time loss
4Measurement precision
If a rigid outer shell is added to protect the cuff from external stimuli, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff system is segmented into two distinct parts: a simple inflatable inner cuff and a rigid outer shell. This segmentation allows the complex protective function to be isolated to the shell while the cuff itself remains simple, making the overall device complexity manageable while achieving improved measurement precision
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 system enhances the accuracy and efficiency of blood pressure measurements by minimizing external noise interference and reducing the time required to reach the necessary pressurization, critical in emergency situations where timely and precise data is essential for lifesaving treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A transducer can be coupled a non-invasive blood pressure monitor and to the inner portion of the blood pressure cuff. The transducer can be configured to sense a pressure of the selectively inflatable portion and output a pressure signal.
Implementation Method 2
During the pre-determined deflation period, a pressure transducer or other sensor detects and measures pulsing through the artery, i.e. cuff pressure oscillations caused by the artery expanding and contracting.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement system that includes a blood pressure cuff and a non-invasive blood pressure monitor. The blood pressure cuff including an inner portion that is selectively inflatable and an outer portion that is rigid or semi-rigid. The outer portion reducing external stimuli on the inner portion. The inner portion connected to a sensor coupled to the NIBP monitor, the sensor sensing a pressure of the inner portion. The NIBP monitor receiving the sensor data and processing the sensor data to determine a blood pressure of a patient about which the blood pressure cuff has been placed.