Millimeter-Wave Pelvic Floor Motion Detection Without Physical Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pelvic floor muscle detection methods require physical contact, causing discomfort and hindering widespread adoption.

Innovation Solution

A non-contact method using millimeter-wave radar to detect pelvic floor muscle movement by acquiring intermediate frequency signals, performing range FFT, selecting target range-bins, demodulating phase information, and converting it into displacement information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If contact-based pelvic floor muscle testing method is used, then measurement precision is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates and ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepelvic floor muscle detection accuracyVSAvoidpatient comfort and detection accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based detection system with a millimeter-wave radar-based electromagnetic detection system. The radar system uses electromagnetic waves to detect pelvic floor muscle movements without physical contact, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating patient discomfort and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces millimeter-wave radar as an intermediary between the detector and the pelvic floor muscles. This intermediary enables non-contact detection by using electromagnetic waves to sense muscle movements, resolving the contradiction between contact-based precision and contactless comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If non-contact millimeter-wave radar method is used, then patient comfort is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient comfort and detection accessibilityVSAvoidpelvic floor muscle detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase information of millimeter-wave radar signals, which changes in response to pelvic floor muscle movements. By processing phase information through FFT and phase unwrapping algorithms, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision for detecting small muscle displacements while maintaining non-contact operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from direct mechanical displacement measurement to phase information measurement in the signal domain. This dimensionality change allows indirect detection of muscle movements through phase variations, maintaining precision while enabling non-contact operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If contact-based detection method is used, then detection accuracy is improved, but scalability and widespread adoption deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepelvic floor muscle detection accuracyVSAvoidscalability and widespread adoption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based detection system with a millimeter-wave radar-based electromagnetic detection system. This substitution enables scalable and widespread adoption by eliminating the need for professional operators and physical contact, while maintaining sufficient detection accuracy through signal processing techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 comfortable and scalable detection of pelvic floor muscle movement without physical contact, improving patient experience and detection ease.

Implementation Method 1

Millimeter-wave technology features short wavelengths, wide bandwidth, high resolution, narrow antenna beams, strong penetration capabilities, and excellent interference resistance. Millimeter-wave sensors enable high-resolution, high-sensitivity, and high-accuracy target perception and detection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

performing range FFT on the intermediate frequency signal to obtain a range FFT result, wherein the range FFT result includes multiple sets of data points corresponding one-to-one to multiple range-bins

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFast Fourier Transform:

Implementation Method 3

demodulating the information to be processed to obtain phase information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase demodulation:

Data Source

PatentEP4681626A1Method and system for detecting pelvic floor muscle movement based on millimeter wave radar
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NANJING MEDLANDER MEDICAL TECH CO LTD
  • EP4681626A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4681626A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4681626A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a method and system for detecting pelvic floor muscle movement based on millimeter-wave radar, applicable to the field of medical technology. The method comprises: performing range FFT on the intermediate frequency signal to obtain a range FFT result, wherein the range FFT result includes multiple sets of data points corresponding one-to-one to multiple range-bins; selecting data points corresponding to target range-bin from the range FFT result as information to be processed, wherein the target range-bin matches the range between the pelvic floor muscles and the millimeter-wave radar; demodulating the information to be processed to obtain phase information; and converting the phase information into pelvic floor muscle displacement information. This application proposes a novel non-contact method for detecting pelvic floor muscles based on millimeter-wave radar. This non-contact method can avoid the discomfort caused to patients by physical contact during detection, making it easy to promote.