Vehicle Post-Crash Medical Data System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing the medical condition of vehicle occupants after an accident rely on visual inspection and communication, which are limited by the occupants' level of consciousness and knowledge, lacking real-time, accurate information about the occupants' status inside the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an illumination source projecting a light pattern, an imaging device capturing reflections, and a processor analyzing these reflections to detect breathing or heartbeat, providing real-time medical data to first responders through a communication module or cloud service, using near-infrared spectral range and combining image and depth data with machine learning algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual inspection and communication methods are used to assess occupant medical condition, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the information obtained is limited by occupant consciousness and knowledge, resulting in loss of accurate medical information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and communication-based assessment with an automated optical imaging system. The imaging device captures images of the occupant, and a processor automatically analyzes these images to detect breathing and heartbeat, substituting the mechanical human assessment process with an automated optical-electronic system that eliminates dependency on occupant consciousness or knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the occupant to provide medical information passively without active participation. The imaging device captures physiological signals (breathing, heartbeat) automatically, and the processor extracts this information without requiring the occupant to communicate or be conscious, allowing the occupant's body itself to serve as the information source.
2Measurement precision
If automated imaging analysis is used to detect breathing or heartbeat, then medical information accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional illumination sources and imaging devices
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device serves multiple functions: it captures visual images of the occupant for positional assessment and simultaneously captures physiological signals (breathing, heartbeat) through analysis of light reflections. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each measurement type, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light reflections from the occupant's body as an intermediary to transmit physiological information. The illumination source projects light onto the occupant, and the imaging device captures the reflected light, which carries information about breathing and heartbeat. This intermediary approach allows non-contact detection of vital signs using existing optical components rather than requiring complex direct physiological sensors.
3Loss of time
If real-time medical data transmission to first responders is implemented, then response time is reduced, but communication infrastructure requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment and prepares medical information in advance of the rescue response. By continuously monitoring and analyzing occupant vital signs before an accident occurs and immediately after, the system has medical data ready for transmission as soon as communication is possible, minimizing the loss of time without requiring complex real-time communication protocols during the critical initial response phase.
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 immediate and accurate assessment of medical conditions, reducing response time and long-term medical implications by providing vital signs and injury severity analysis, improving survival chances and potentially lowering insurance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging device configured to capture a plurality of images, said plurality of images comprising reflections of said light pattern from one or more occupants in the scene
Implementation Method 2
detecting one or more changes in one or more speckle patterns of at least one of the reflections of said light pattern in at least some consecutive images of the plurality of images; identifying micro-vibrations of the at least one object based on said speckle pattern analysis
Implementation Method 3
the system comprises the use of an illumination source in the near infra-red (NIR) spectral range
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods are provided for providing first responders after a vehicle accident with useful information regarding the medical status and injuries of the vehicle's occupants. The system includes an in-cabin sensor comprising at least one or more of an image sensor, depth sensor and micro-vibration sensor for capturing sensory data of the vehicle cabin including pre-crash data, during-crash and post-crash. The system also includes at least one processor configured to analyze the sensory data.