Piezoelectric Micro Gas Pump for Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wearable health monitoring devices for blood pressure measurement are bulky, power-intensive, and lack precision due to their reliance on optical detection methods, making them unsuitable for regular, portable, and accurate health monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A wearable blood pressure measuring device incorporating a micro gas pump, an elastic medium, and a pressure sensor, where the micro gas pump is piezoelectrically actuated to inflate the elastic medium, which expands and presses the pressure sensor against the skin to measure blood pressure, addressing the issues of size, power consumption, and precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a motor-driven gas pump is used in conventional sphygmomanometers, then sufficient gas pressure can be provided, but the device becomes bulky and frictional loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas pressureVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the motor-driven gas pump with a piezoelectrically actuated micro gas pump. The piezoelectric actuator converts electrical energy directly to mechanical motion through crystal deformation, eliminating the need for motor components and reducing device volume while maintaining sufficient gas pressure generation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a macro-scale motor-driven pump to a micro-scale piezoelectric pump, changing the size parameter of the gas pumping mechanism. This parameter change enables the device to be miniaturized while still providing adequate pressure for blood pressure measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stress or pressure

If a motor-driven gas pump is used, then gas pressure can be generated, but energy consumption increases due to frictional loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas pressureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of moving object

If optical detection method is used in wearable devices, then the device can be portable and wearable, but measurement precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidblood pressure measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an elastic medium as an intermediary between the micro gas pump and the pressure sensor. This elastic medium transmits the mechanical pressure from the pump to the sensor while maintaining the wearable form factor, enabling accurate blood pressure measurement without compromising portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If commercially-available sphygmomanometers are used, then reliable blood pressure measurement can be achieved, but the device is bulky and not portable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood pressure measurement precisionVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the gas pump, elastic medium, and pressure sensor into an integrated wearable device. This combination allows the device to maintain the functional reliability of conventional sphygmomanometers while achieving a compact, portable form factor suitable for regular use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the motor-driven gas pump with a piezoelectrically actuated micro gas pump, enabling miniaturization of the device while maintaining sufficient gas pressure generation capability for reliable blood pressure measurement.

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

The device provides precise, portable, and energy-efficient blood pressure measurement, enabling users to monitor their health accurately and conveniently, with the ability to carry and use it anywhere.

Implementation Method 1

The micro gas pump is piezoelectrically actuated to inflate the elastic medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the elastic medium is inflated with the gas to be expanded. The expansion of the elastic medium pushes the pressure sensor to press against the skin of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3479762B1Wearable blood pressure measuring device

Publication Date: 2022.12.28 MICROJET TECH

Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B

AI summary

A wearable blood pressure measuring device (2) includes a strap structure (21), a micro gas pump (22) and a pressure sensor (24). The strap structure (21) is adapted to be worn by a user and has an outer surface (210) and an inner surface (211). The micro gas pump (22) is disposed on the strap structure (21). The pressure sensor (24) is combined with the micro gas pump (22) through an elastic medium (23), disposed on the inner surface (211) of the strap structure (21) and in contact with skin (11c) of the user for monitoring blood pressure. The micro gas pump (22) is operated to drive gas, wherein the gas is transported into the elastic medium (23) to inflate the elastic medium (23) with the gas. The expanded elastic medium (23) pushes the pressure sensor (24) to press against the skin (11c) of the user for facilitating measurement of a blood pressure of a target artery (11b) by a flattening and scanning operation.