Optical Blood Flow Speed Measurement via Autocorrelation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive methods for measuring arterial blood flow speed are time-consuming, unreliable, and require prior knowledge of geometric or mechanical properties of arteries, limiting their effectiveness in quickly and accurately determining blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive optical method using a light source and detector system that measures blood flow speed in blood vessels by analyzing the autocorrelation function of light interacted with blood, independent of vessel dimensions or mechanical properties, utilizing diffused light and accounting for multiple scatterings by red blood cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior knowledge of geometric or mechanical properties of arteries is used in current non-invasive methods, then measurement can be performed, but the measurement becomes time-consuming and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the requirement for prior knowledge of geometric or mechanical properties of arteries from the measurement process. By using optical correlation techniques that directly measure blood flow speed from light scattering patterns, the method eliminates the need to obtain separate anatomical information, thereby reducing measurement time and improving reliability without requiring assumptions about vessel dimensions or mechanical characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If assumptions about artery properties are made to simplify measurement, then measurement process is simplified, but the measurements become incorrect for particular persons
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system performs self-characterization by directly measuring the optical properties and blood flow characteristics of each individual's arteries in real-time. Instead of relying on pre-stored assumptions or population averages, the system adapts to each person's specific anatomy and physiology through the optical correlation method, ensuring both simplicity and personalization without requiring manual input of anatomical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from requiring geometric and mechanical properties to using optical correlation parameters derived directly from light scattering. By measuring the temporal correlations of scattered light patterns, the system obtains blood flow speed information that is specific to each individual's actual physiological state, eliminating the need for incorrect generalizing assumptions.
3Measurement precision
If current non-invasive methods are used to determine arterial blood speed, then blood speed can be measured, but the methods require difficult-to-obtain geometric and mechanical information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical and geometric measurement approaches with optical correlation techniques. Instead of using ultrasound or MRI methods that require knowledge of vessel geometry and mechanical properties, the system uses light scattering correlations to directly measure blood flow speed. This substitution eliminates the need for difficult-to-obtain anatomical information while maintaining or improving 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
Enables direct, accurate, and rapid measurement of blood flow speed in major arteries without prior knowledge of anatomy or mechanical properties, providing essential health information for disease diagnosis and monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
light from the light source interacts with blood in the blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
light from the light source interacts with blood in the blood vessel
Implementation Method 3
receiving light which interacted with the blood in the blood vessel by a light detector. The method also includes generating, by the light detector, one or more signals corresponding to the light which interacted with the blood
Implementation Method 4
generating a numeric value indicative of the blood flow speed in the blood vessel using an autocorrelation function of the electric field associated with the light received by the light detector
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a speed of blood flow in a blood vessel which include interacting light with blood in the blood vessel, measuring, using a light detector, a characteristic related to time variations of electric field of light which interacted with the blood in the blood vessel, and generating a numeric value indicative of the blood flow speed in the blood vessel using an autocorrelation function of the electric field associated with the light which interacted with the blood in the blood vessel.