Physiological Parameter Sensing Using Correlation-Based Pulse Vector Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing physiological parameter sensing methods, such as SpO2 monitoring, face challenges in accurately determining blood oxygen saturation, especially in mobile patients or those with severe arrhythmias, due to motion artefacts and respiratory fluctuations, which can lead to erroneous measurements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an auxiliary heart rate sensing means into the physiological parameter sensing system to improve the quality assessment of blood volume pulse vectors by determining the strength of correlation between pulse signals and heart rate signals, thereby selecting the most accurate blood volume pulse vector and reducing noise distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional PPG sensing methods are used to measure blood oxygen saturation, then the measurement can be performed continuously and non-invasively, but motion artefacts and respiratory fluctuations cause erroneous measurements and reduce accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidSpO2 measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system derives quality indicator values for multiple blood volume pulse vectors and uses feedback to select the vector with the highest quality indicator, thereby improving measurement reliability by eliminating erroneous measurements caused by motion artifacts and respiratory fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter being measured from raw PPG signals to quality indicator values that reflect the strength of relationship between pulse signals and heart rate signals, allowing selection of the most reliable measurement under varying physiological conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple blood volume pulse vectors are evaluated to improve SpO2 accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSpO2 measurement precisionVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the physiological signals themselves (heart rate signals and pulse signals) to generate quality indicators that automatically identify the best blood volume pulse vector, eliminating the need for external calibration or complex manual adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical or manual signal quality assessment methods with automated computational derivation of quality indicators based on the strength of relationship between physiological signals, simplifying the overall system while improving precision

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

This approach enhances the accuracy and robustness of SpO2 determination by reducing motion artefacts and improving signal quality, leading to more reliable physiological parameter measurements even in challenging conditions.

Implementation Method 1

detection signals derived from detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from, or transmitted through, a skin region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

detection signals derived from detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from, or transmitted through, a skin region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransmission:

Implementation Method 3

blood absorbs light more than surrounding tissue, so variations in blood volume with every heart beat affect transmission or reflectance correspondingly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption of electromagnetic radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 4

determining the strength of correlation between pulse signals and heart rate signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorrelation analysis:

Data Source

PatentEP3709883B1System and method for sensing physiological parameters
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3709883B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3709883B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3709883B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention provides a physiological parameter sensing system (50) and method in which physiological information indicative of at least one physiological parameter is derived. The approach of the invention is based on constructing multiple pulse signals from different weighted combinations of at least two detection signals, derived from detected electromagnetic radiation directed onto or through a subject's skin region. The weightings are based on different of a set of various blood volume pulse vectors. A quality indication value is derived for each generated pulse signal, where this is based on a derived relationship between an obtained heart rate signal for the patient and the pulse signal. The blood volume pulse vector resulting in the pulse signal having the highest quality indicator value and/or from the derived pulse signal itself is used to derive the physiological parameter information.