Oximeter LED Temperature Control for Reusable Sterile Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oximeters face challenges in improving reuse, reducing contamination during use, enhancing measurement accuracy, and ensuring effective sanitation and sterilization, particularly in non-ideal conditions such as tissue flap surgery.
Innovation Solution
A compact, handheld oximeter housed in a sheath that shields the device from contaminants, with temperature control mechanisms to maintain sterility and enable reuse, and integrated LED power modulation for heating or cooling to optimize measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the oximeter device is reused to reduce cost and improve productivity, then the device may become contaminated with biological contaminants, but contamination can be reduced by housing the device in a sheath that shields it from contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two distinct parts: a reusable oximeter device and a disposable sheath. The sheath acts as a barrier that protects the device from contamination, allowing the device to be reused while the sheath is discarded after single use. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by isolating the harmful contamination risk from the reusable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath serves as an intermediary barrier between the oximeter device and the contaminated environment. It shields the device from biological contaminants during use and can be sterilized or replaced, enabling device reuse without direct contamination. The intermediary protects the valuable device while allowing it to function in harsh environments.
2Measurement precision
If temperature control is implemented to maintain measurement accuracy, then additional electronic components are required, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LEDs serve dual functions: their primary function of emitting light for oximetry measurements and a secondary function of generating heat for temperature control. By modulating the power supplied to the LEDs, the system can heat or cool the device without requiring separate heating or cooling components. This self-service approach maintains measurement accuracy while avoiding additional electronic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The LEDs are designed to perform multiple functions: optical measurement and thermal control. By utilizing the same component for both light emission and heat generation, the system achieves temperature control capability without adding dedicated heating elements, thermostats, or temperature control circuitry, thus maintaining simplicity while improving precision.
3Device complexity
If LEDs are used for both oximetry measurements and temperature control, then the same component performs multiple functions, but this may interfere with measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic modulation of LED power to distinguish between measurement and heating modes. During oximetry measurements, LEDs are powered at a first duty cycle, while during heating/cooling, power is modulated at a different duty cycle. This periodic action with distinct duty cycles allows the same LEDs to perform both functions without interference, as the system can identify and process signals based on their temporal patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temperature sensors and oximetry detectors to dynamically adjust LED power modulation. The control system monitors temperature and measurement quality, then adjusts the duty cycle and power levels accordingly to maintain both accurate measurements and proper temperature control, resolving the potential interference between the two functions.
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 solution allows for reliable, reusable oximeters with improved sanitation, reduced contamination risk, and enhanced measurement precision, suitable for various medical and surgical applications including tissue flap surgery.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
Light absorption differs significantly for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobins at certain wavelengths of light
Implementation Method 3
a light detector that includes a plurality of photodiodes
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes increasing or decreasing a temperature of an oximeter device by cycling oximetry measurements and temperature adjustment at a predetermined frequency. During temperature adjustment, power supplied to LEDs of the oximeter device may be modulated to heat or cool the oximeter device if the oximetry device is above a temperature setpoint or below the temperature setpoint. After the device is heated to the temperature setpoint an oximetry measurement is made using the LED to illuminate patient tissue, detected the light from the tissue after illumination, and determining oximetry information for the tissue. Using the LED for heating and oximetry measurements reduces electronic components of the device improves reliability from the reduction of electronic components. The device can also not power the LEDs to allow the device to cool if the temperature is above the temperature setpoint.