Oxygen Saturation Probe With Periodic Pulses for Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulse oximeters and tissue oxygen saturation measuring apparatuses face issues such as low temperature burns due to prolonged use, difficulty in accurately measuring oxygen saturation at varying tissue depths, and the need for separate devices to measure arterial and tissue oxygen saturation, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen saturation measuring apparatus with a probe that adjusts light emission based on stored distance information between the light emitting and receiving units, allowing for safe, continuous measurement of both arterial and tissue oxygen saturation using controlled light pulses and emission rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light emitting unit continuously emits near infrared light to measure oxygen saturation, then measurement function is maintained, but heat accumulation occurs causing low temperature burns
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting unit emits near infrared light in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The control unit adjusts the pulse rate dynamically - using a first pulse rate for tissue oxygen saturation measurement and a second pulse rate (higher by a predetermined ratio) for arterial oxygen saturation measurement. This periodic emission with adjustable pulse rates prevents continuous heat accumulation while maintaining measurement functionality.
2Measurement precision
If separate devices are used to measure arterial oxygen saturation and tissue oxygen saturation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen saturation measuring apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions using a single device. It can measure both tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) by dynamically adjusting the light pulse rate. The control unit switches between different pulse rates to enable the same hardware to serve dual measurement purposes, eliminating the need for separate devices.
3Measurement precision
If the light pulse rate is increased to measure arterial oxygen saturation, then arterial blood measurement accuracy is improved, but heat accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic light emission with dynamically adjustable pulse rates. For arterial oxygen saturation measurement, the pulse rate is temporarily increased to a second rate (higher by predetermined ratio), but this high-rate emission occurs only during brief measurement intervals. Between measurements, the pulse rate returns to the lower first rate, allowing heat dissipation and preventing sustained temperature elevation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the probe is attached to distant body parts to avoid heat accumulation, then safety is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the light emission parameters (pulse rate and duty cycle) based on the measurement mode and tissue characteristics. By optimizing the emission profile rather than reducing emission intensity, the system maintains measurement accuracy at the original probe attachment site while preventing heat accumulation through controlled temporal emission patterns.
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 safe, easy, and economical continuous measurement of both SpO2 and rSO2 at desired body positions, mitigating heat accumulation and reducing the need for multiple devices by using a single apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The probe comprises a light emitting unit that emits light, i.e., two types of near infrared lights at different wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
a light receiving unit that detects the light emitted from the light emitting unit on the side opposite to the light emitting unit
Implementation Method 3
the light absorption amount to the hemoglobin contained in the blood is different between the two types of lights depending on the state of bonding with oxygen
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An oxygen saturation measuring apparatus capable of measuring arterial blood oxidation saturation (SpO2), and tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2), safely, easily and economically at a desired position of a biological body for a long time continuously. A ROM stores the distance information between a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit situated corresponding to the depth of a target intended to be measured for tissue oxygen saturation, a light emission driving unit makes the light emitting unit emit light in an amount of light corresponding to the distance information, MPU makes the light emitting unit emit a pulses capable of measuring the tissue oxygen saturation, MPU applies pulse capable of measuring the tissue oxygen saturation from the light emission driving unit to the light emitting unit, and the pulse increasing unit increases the amount of pulses from MPU for a predetermined time to pulses capable of measuring the arterial blood oxygen saturation.