Non-invasive Disease State Estimation via Physiological Variability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical assessment procedures often involve invasive or unpleasant methods, deterring patients from seeking treatment due to discomfort or fear of procedures like blood collection or prolonged ECG monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive method using medical devices to capture physiological data, such as pulse rate and pupil diameter variability, through imaging and analysis, which compares the data to baseline values to estimate disease states, facilitating remote and comfortable patient monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If invasive procedures (blood collection, biopsies) are used to assess health state, then measurement precision is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease state assessment accuracyVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical procedures (blood collection, biopsies) with non-invasive optical imaging systems that capture physiological data through cameras and sensors, eliminating physical intrusion while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces physiological parameters (pulse rate variability, pupil diameter variability) as intermediary measurements that can be obtained non-invasively and serve as proxies for direct invasive measurements, enabling disease state assessment without direct tissue or fluid sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple leads are connected for ECG monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac performance assessment accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex multi-lead ECG electrode connections with simple optical imaging using cameras and sensors that capture cardiac activity through physiological changes in the body surface, eliminating the need for multiple electrical connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a single imaging device that can capture multiple physiological parameters (pulse rate, pupil diameter, respiratory rate) simultaneously, replacing the need for separate specialized equipment for each measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If invasive procedures are used, then reliability of disease state determination is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease state determination accuracyVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex invasive procedural equipment with simple optical imaging devices (cameras, sensors) that can be operated without specialized medical training, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining diagnostic reliability through advanced image analysis algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11445983B2Non-invasive determination of disease states

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 WELCH ALLYN INC

AI summary

An example method for estimating a disease state for a patient can include: capturing physiological data including images from the patient over time; processing the physiological data to detect a variability; comparing the variability to a baseline or a range; and estimating the disease state for the patient based upon the comparing of the variability to the baseline or the limit.