Reconfigurable Blood Pressure Cuff for Comfort and Measurement Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current noninvasive blood pressure measurement approaches, such as ambulatory and home measurements, may fail to detect hypertension patterns that occur intermittently or fluctuate over time, leading to insufficient detection of conditions like white coat, borderline, nocturnal, isolated systolic, and isolated diastolic hypertension.
Innovation Solution
An ambulatory blood pressure cuff with a reconfigurable support band that transitions between a flexible standby configuration for comfort during movement and a measurement configuration for accurate pressure measurement, using electrostatic binding to enhance circumferential stiffness, and an inflatable bladder with controlled inflation and deflation for continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the support band is made rigid to provide suitable support during inflation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to inability to accommodate limb movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support band transitions from a flexible state during movement to a rigid state during measurement. The band includes reinforcement sheets that can be positioned or activated to provide stiffness only when needed for accurate blood pressure measurement, while remaining flexible during normal limb movement and flexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support band has different stiffness characteristics in different regions or states. The reinforcement sheets are strategically placed to provide localized rigidity at the measurement site while allowing flexibility in other areas, enabling the band to simultaneously accommodate limb movement and provide measurement stability.
2Ease of operation
If the support band is made flexible to accommodate limb movement, then user comfort is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient support during inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The support band dynamically changes its mechanical properties based on operational state. During movement, the band remains flexible to accommodate limb motion. During measurement, the band transitions to a rigid state through reinforcement sheets that provide the necessary structural support for accurate blood pressure measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement sheets are pre-positioned within the support band structure, ready to provide rigidity when needed. The band is designed so that the reinforcement elements can be activated or engaged before the measurement process begins, ensuring optimal support is available when inflation occurs.
3Reliability
If continuous blood pressure monitoring is implemented to detect intermittent hypertension patterns, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blood pressure monitoring device is designed for ambulatory use, allowing continuous self-monitoring throughout daily activities without requiring clinical setting or complex external equipment. The device automatically performs measurements and can detect hypertension patterns through repeated readings over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs blood pressure measurements at periodic intervals to capture intermittent hypertension patterns. By taking multiple readings over time during normal activities, the system can detect white coat hypertension, borderline hypertension, and other fluctuating patterns that would be missed by single measurements.
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
The cuff provides increased user comfort and accurate blood pressure measurements by accommodating limb movement while ensuring suitable support during inflation, thereby improving the detection of hypertension patterns.
Implementation Method 1
the electrodes are energized so as to electrostatically bind the electrodes together, thereby constraining the reinforcement sheets to inhibit changes in the circumference of the flexible band
Implementation Method 2
an inflatable bladder with controlled inflation and deflation for continuous monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A blood pressure cuff includes a support band that is selectively reconfigured between a flexible standby configuration and a measurement configuration. A blood pressure cuff includes an inflatable bladder, a support band, and a control unit. The support band is attached to and surrounds the inflatable bladder. The support band is reconfigurable, in response to an input from the control unit, from a standby configuration for between blood pressure measurements to a measurement configuration for constraining the inflatable bladder while the inflatable bladder is in an inflated state during a blood pressure measurement. The control unit includes a bladder pump for inflation of the inflatable bladder during a blood pressure measurement and controls the selective reconfiguration of the support band.