Pulse Wave Detector Attachment Auxiliary Member for Wrist Ulna

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biometric information measurement devices face challenges in securing attachments to the wrist due to protrusions like the ulna, leading to impaired ease of use and potential displacement of sensors, especially when using highly stretchable materials or adjustable band configurations.

Innovation Solution

A pulse wave detector with a strip-like band and an attachment auxiliary member that can be attached to and detached from the band, featuring a concave portion to accommodate the ulna or radius, ensuring stable contact and preventing interference, thus improving attachment ease and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a highly stretchable material is used in the band, then the feeling and easiness of attachment of the device can be improved, but after the device is secured to the wrist, there arises a possibility that displacement of the position of the sensor portion may be caused by stretching or contraction of the band portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an attachment auxiliary member as an intermediary component between the band and the wrist. This member includes a pressing portion that contacts the wrist and a band receiving portion that holds the band, creating a stable reference point that prevents sensor displacement while maintaining the ease of attachment provided by stretchable band material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment auxiliary member is prepared in advance with a structure that pre-establishes the correct positioning relationship between the sensor and the wrist. The pressing portion is designed to make initial contact with the wrist at the appropriate location, ensuring the sensor is correctly positioned before the band is fully fastened

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the housing is secured to the wrist by using a band, then the production cost of the device can be suppressed, but when the band is to be fastened, the band hits the ulna, and hence there arises a possibility that the feeling and easiness of attachment of the device may be impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidease of attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment auxiliary member serves as a mediator between the simple band structure and the complex wrist anatomy. It includes a pressing portion that interfaces with the wrist (absorbing the impact of ulna protrusion) and a band receiving portion that maintains compatibility with simple band fastening, thus preserving low manufacturing cost while improving attachment ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment auxiliary member provides localized structural enhancement only at the critical attachment region where the band contacts the wrist. The pressing portion is specifically shaped to accommodate the ulna protrusion, while the rest of the device housing remains simple and cost-effective

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If sensors are disposed on the band itself, then the pressing positions of the sensors can be made adjustable, but there is a high possibility that the positions of the sensors may be displaced by a motion of the hand

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment auxiliary member acts as an intermediary that decouples the sensor positioning function from the band. The pressing portion with its band receiving portion creates a stable mounting point that prevents sensor displacement during hand motion, while the band can still be adjusted for different wrist sizes and sensor positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If an opening for avoiding the ulna is disposed in the housing, then the attachment state of the device to the wrist can be stably maintained, but the production cost of the device is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the attachment function into two separate components: the housing and the attachment auxiliary member. The housing remains simple without complex openings, while the attachment auxiliary member (worn on the back side) provides the ulna-avoiding geometry. This segmentation maintains attachment stability while reducing housing manufacturing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3443894B1Pulse wave detection device and biological information measuring device
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 OMRON HEALTHCARE CO LTD
  • EP3443894B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3443894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3443894B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a pulse wave detector in which the feeling and easiness of attachment to the wrist can be improved, and which can accurately detect a pulse wave, a biometric information measurement device including the detector, and an attachment auxiliary member which is to be used in a pulse wave detector. A biometric information measurement device 100 which is used while being attached to the wrist of a measurement subject includes: a housing 20 including a pulse wave detecting section 22; a strip-like band 40 for securing the housing 20 to the wrist W; and an attachment auxiliary member 30 which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the band 40. In a secured state where the housing 20 is secured to the wrist W with the band 40 to which the attachment auxiliary member 30 is attached, the attachment auxiliary member 30 is contacted with the vicinity of the ulna S in the wrist W.