Portable Core Temperature Estimation Using Skin Temperature and Heat Flux
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately measuring core body temperature with portable devices is challenging due to environmental factors affecting heat transfer, leading to discrepancies between skin temperature and core body temperature.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with sensors to measure skin temperature, heat flux, and heart rate, using a processor to estimate the rate of core body temperature change, providing notifications for abnormal temperatures based on predetermined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If skin temperature is measured directly with portable devices, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental factors affecting heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces heat flux as an intermediary parameter to bridge the gap between skin temperature measurement and core body temperature estimation. By measuring the heat flux from the skin and combining it with skin temperature and heart rate data, the system can estimate core body temperature more accurately without requiring direct core temperature measurement, thus maintaining measurement simplicity while improving precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from solely skin temperature to a combination of skin temperature, heat flux, and heart rate. This multi-parameter approach allows the system to compensate for environmental factors affecting heat transfer, thereby improving core body temperature estimation accuracy while keeping the measurement process simple and portable
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to improve core body temperature estimation accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the portable device multi-functional by integrating skin temperature sensing, heat flux measurement, and heart rate monitoring capabilities into a single device. This allows the system to collect multiple parameters needed for accurate core body temperature estimation without requiring separate measurement devices, thereby improving precision while managing device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (temperature measurement, heat flux detection, heart rate monitoring) into a unified sensor system that works together to estimate core body temperature. By merging these functions into a single integrated system rather than using separate devices, the patent improves measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple independent measurement systems
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
Rapidly and accurately estimates core body temperature changes, enabling timely warnings for potential health risks such as fever or hypothermia, without direct core temperature measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to measure a skin temperature of skin of a user
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor configured to measure heat flux transmitted from the skin to a main body of the electronic device
Implementation Method 3
a third sensor configured to measure a heart rate of the user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An electronic device (100) for estimating a user core body temperature may include: a first sensor (121) configured to measure a skin temperature of skin of a user; a second sensor (122) configured to measure a heat flux transmitted from the skin to a main body of the electronic device; a third sensor (123) configured to measure a heart rate of the user; and a processor (130) configured to estimate a rate of core body temperature change based on the skin temperature measured at a first time and a second time, the heat flux, the heart rate, and the skin temperature.