Patient Temperature Control via Shivering Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Induced hypothermia procedures often face challenges with patient shivering, which increases heat production and discomfort, hindering rapid temperature reduction and efficiency in medical treatments.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus with a monitoring device that tracks patient shivering through sensors like accelerometers, EMG, and vasoconstriction measurements, providing outputs to medical personnel for anti-shivering medication administration and temperature control adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If rapid cooling is applied to induce hypothermia quickly, then the speed of temperature reduction is improved, but patient shivering increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of shivering risk before initiating rapid cooling. By evaluating patient-specific factors (age, weight, medical condition) and environmental conditions in advance, the system pre-calculates optimal cooling parameters that minimize shivering while maintaining rapid cooling efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors patient temperature, shivering intensity, and physiological parameters during cooling therapy. Based on real-time feedback, the cooling rate and anti-shivering medication dosage are dynamically adjusted to maintain optimal therapeutic effect while minimizing harmful shivering responses.
2Productivity
If high rate of heat transfer is applied to rapidly cool the body, then the efficiency of hypothermia induction is improved, but patient discomfort and heat production increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates dynamically with variable cooling rates rather than fixed high-rate cooling. The system adjusts cooling intensity in real-time based on patient response, allowing high efficiency when tolerated and reduced intensity when discomfort or shivering occurs, optimizing the balance between productivity and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously including cooling fluid temperature, flow rate, and duration to achieve efficient hypothermia induction. By coordinating changes in these parameters with anti-shivering medication administration, the system maintains high productivity while managing patient discomfort and heat production.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If anti-shivering medication is administered to suppress shivering, then patient comfort is improved, but the complexity of treatment protocol increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and guides anti-shivering medication dosing based on patient parameters and real-time shivering monitoring, reducing the need for complex manual clinical decisions. The embedded algorithms handle the complexity of timing and dosing, allowing medical personnel to follow simplified protocols while maintaining optimal patient comfort.
4Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of patient physiological responses is implemented, then the precision of shivering detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules (accelerometer for motion detection, EMG for muscle activity, temperature sensors) that can be selectively activated. This modular approach achieves high detection precision through multiple measurement modalities while managing system complexity through independent, standardized sensor components.
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 system effectively reduces patient shivering, heat production, and discomfort, enhancing the efficiency of hypothermia induction by providing timely and targeted interventions.
Implementation Method 1
heat is removed across the patient's skin. Cooling of the skin increases conduction of heat from deeper within the body
Implementation Method 2
directing the flow of the cooling fluid around the patient's body
Implementation Method 3
A motion sensor may be selectively interconnectable to a patient to monitor a magnitude of patient shivering
Implementation Method 4
electromyography (EMG) surface sensors for monitoring muscular electrical activity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided, the system including a monitoring device to monitor sensory data of a patient and to provide a sensory data response thereto, and a control unit configurable to cool or warm circulated fluid through at least one contact pad for thermal exchange with the patient. The monitoring device can be configured to monitor a patient physiological response to a change in temperature of the patient (e.g. pursuant to induced hypothermia therapy), wherein a monitoring signal is provided by the monitoring device. A processor can be provided to process the monitoring signal and provide an output employable by medical personnel. The processor can be programmed to control automatically a temperature of the circulated fluid to cool or warm the patient in different treatment phases in accordance with a predetermined protocol, and process the sensory data signal to provide an output signal indicative of a sensory measurement.