Oxygen Saturation Sensor Sternal Angle Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oxygen saturation measurement methods are not accurate and reliable over long periods due to location dependence and breath-induced movements, requiring improved methods for consistent and precise measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method using a device with an oxygen saturation sensor that illuminates the sternal angle with infrared and visible light pulses, combined with electrocardiograph signals, to generate waveform templates and calculate oxygen saturation characteristics, applying filters and similarity scores to enhance measurement accuracy and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If oxygen saturation measurements are taken over long periods, then the duration of monitoring is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to location dependence and breath-induced movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring durationVSAvoidoxygen saturation measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting cardiac cycle durations from initial waveform templates and using them to evaluate measurement quality before final oxygen saturation calculations. This preliminary quality assessment ensures that only measurements taken during stable cardiac cycles are used, maintaining precision over long monitoring periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously evaluating measurement quality using waveform templates and cardiac cycle duration comparisons. When quality thresholds are not met, the system adjusts by selecting different measurement windows or rejecting poor quality readings, ensuring consistent precision throughout long-term monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If waveform templates and filtering methods are applied, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen saturation measurement precisionVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal processing is segmented into distinct modular stages: high-pass filtering to remove baseline drift, bilateral filtering to reduce noise while preserving edges, waveform template generation, and quality evaluation. Each stage processes the signal independently and passes results to the next stage, making the complex processing manageable and systematic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic waveform templates that are generated from the actual detected cardiac cycles rather than using fixed predetermined templates. The templates adapt to the user's specific cardiac characteristics, improving measurement precision while the modular architecture keeps implementation complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This approach provides reliable and consistent oxygen saturation measurements by reducing breath-induced movements and improving accuracy, allowing for long-term monitoring with increased user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

illumination, by an oxygen saturation sensor included in a device that may be removably attached to a user, of a sternal angle of a user by infrared pulses; wherein the second detection signals result from an illumination, by the oxygen saturation sensor, of the sternal angle of a user by visible light pulses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10165969B2Positioning a medical device based on oxygen saturation measurements

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 LIFEWATCH TECH

AI summary

A method that includes receiving first and second detection signals and electrocardiograph signals; wherein the first detection signals result from an illumination, by an oxygen saturation sensor included in a device that may be removably attached to a user, of a sternal angle of a user by infrared pulses; wherein the second detection signals result from an illumination, by the oxygen saturation sensor, of the sternal angle of a user by visible light pulses; wherein the electrocardiograph signals may be detected by an electrocardiography sensor that may be included in the device; generating a first waveform template that may be responsive to the first detection signals; generating a second waveform template that may be responsive to the second detection signals; calculating an indication of the oxygen saturation characteristic of the user in response to the first and second detection signals; detecting cardiac cycle durations that may be based upon the first and second detection signals; detecting electrocardiography based cardiac cycle durations; and evaluating a quality of the indication of the oxygen saturation characteristic of the user in response to the first waveform template, the second waveform template, the cardiac cycle's durations and the electrocardiography based cardiac cycle durations.