Patient Feedback System for Therapeutic Device Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients using therapeutic devices, such as those for obstructive sleep apnea treatment, often feel uncomfortable due to unfamiliarity with technical and physiological terminology and settings, leading to anxiety about whether discomfort is a treatment side-effect or a result of incorrect settings.
Innovation Solution
A patient feedback system that compares personal profile data with reference data from similar patients to determine statistically relevant feedback information, providing reassurance and suggesting optimal device settings through a cohort selection module and feedback unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patients use therapeutic devices with complex settings and technical terminology, then treatment effectiveness can be improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to unfamiliarity and anxiety
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to patients by comparing their device settings with those of similar patients in a database. The feedback unit displays whether a patient's settings are within normal ranges or deviate from typical configurations, enabling patients to self-adjust settings based on comparative feedback without needing to understand complex technical parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary database of reference patient data that mediates between the complex device settings and the patient. Instead of patients directly interpreting technical settings, they interact with simplified feedback derived from comparing their settings against the intermediary reference database, reducing cognitive load and anxiety
2Measurement precision
If patients are provided with detailed device settings and technical information, then treatment precision can be improved, but patient anxiety increases due to uncertainty about correct settings
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback unit provides reassurance by indicating whether patient settings are within normal ranges or deviate from typical configurations. This feedback reduces anxiety by giving patients objective reference points without overwhelming them with technical details, allowing them to make informed adjustments confidently
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms complex technical parameters into simplified feedback indicators that show whether settings are appropriate. Instead of presenting raw technical data that causes anxiety, the system changes the parameter representation to show comparative normality or deviation, making the information reassuring rather than alarming
3Adaptability or versatility
If a database of reference patient data is created and maintained, then personalized feedback can be provided, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The database system serves multiple functions: storing reference data, enabling cohort identification, providing feedback generation, and supporting future treatment optimizations. This multi-functionality justifies the complexity by delivering comprehensive personalized service across multiple operational dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a patient feedback system (10) for providing feedback information on the use of a therapeutic device (14) to a patient (12), said system (10) comprising: an interface (34) for receiving personal profile data (18) of the patient (12); a database (16) for storing reference profile data (18′) and reference device settings (54) from a plurality of reference patients (42) using therapeutic devices; a cohort selection module (36) for comparing the personal profile data (18) of the patient (12) with the reference profile data (18′) of the reference patients (42) in the database (16) and for determining a cohort (44) for the patient (12) from the plurality of reference patients (42) based upon said comparison, wherein said cohort (44) comprises a subset of the reference patients (42) having reference profile data (18′) similar to the personal profile data (18) of the patient (12); and a feedback unit (38) for determining feedback information based on the reference device settings (54) of the reference patients (42) in the cohort (44) and for providing said feedback information to the patient (12).