Physiological Signal Coherence Matching for Sensor Misplacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to accurately determine whether multiple signals in physiological studies originate from the same source, particularly in scenarios where sensors are misplaced, malfunctioning, or intentionally switched, leading to potential health and financial risks.

Innovation Solution

The method employs coherence analysis to assess the phase relationship between signals from different sensors, determining their correspondence by calculating coherence values in the frequency domain, which is independent of signal shape, to verify the authenticity of physiological data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple physiological sensors are used to collect comprehensive data, then the quality and completeness of physiological data is improved, but the amount of noise and irrelevant data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysiological data qualityVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces coherence as an intermediary metric to evaluate and compare physiological signals. The coherence calculation process acts as a mediator that filters out uncorrelated noise while preserving meaningful physiological information, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio without sacrificing measurement completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through iterative coherence-based filtering and signal validation. By continuously evaluating signal coherence and adjusting filtering parameters, the system refines signal quality while maintaining comprehensive physiological monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If signal processing and filtering are applied to remove noise, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the complexity of the processing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical signal processing systems with coherence-based computational methods. Instead of using multiple physical filters and processing stages, the invention uses mathematical coherence calculations to achieve noise reduction, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining or improving signal-to-noise ratio

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter used for signal evaluation from traditional amplitude or frequency-based metrics to coherence-based metrics. This parameter transformation simplifies the processing approach by providing a unified measure of signal quality that inherently accounts for noise without requiring complex multi-stage processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If coherence-based methods are used to identify corresponding signals, then the accuracy of signal matching is improved, but the computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal matching accuracyVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial coherence analysis by focusing on specific frequency ranges and time windows relevant to physiological signals. Instead of computing full-spectrum coherence across all possible frequencies and time periods, the method selectively analyzes only the necessary portions, reducing computational energy while maintaining matching accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The coherence-based signal matching process is segmented into discrete frequency bands and time intervals. By dividing the computational task into smaller, manageable segments that can be processed independently and parallelized, the system achieves high accuracy signal matching with reduced overall computational energy requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3629893B1Coherence-based method, apparatus, and system for identifying corresponding signals of a physiological study
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 NOX MEDICAL EHF
  • EP3629893B1 patent drawingFigure 1~46(B)
  • EP3629893B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3629893B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, apparatus, and system for determining a correspondence of physiological data obtained in a physiological study of a subject. The method includes extracting a first signal from the physiological study. A second signal from the physiological study is also extracted. The first signal and the second signal are obtained by one or more biometric sensors. Data of the first signal and data of the second signal are stored on a memory storage. A coherency value is determined between components of the extracted first signal and components of the extracted second signal. And the correspondence of the physiological study data is determined based on the determined coherency value.