Reflexometry Device for Thyroid Function Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing thyroid hormone dysfunction, such as resting metabolic rate and serum thyroid measurements, are inadequate for accurately assessing thyroid function and monitoring the effects of medications, particularly in sub-clinical hypothyroidism, which is associated with various chronic degenerative diseases.

Innovation Solution

A device and system that correlates reflex responses, specifically the Brachioradialis reflex intervals, with thyroid function using a spring-loaded plunger and inclinator to measure Pre-Firing and Firing Intervals, integrating these measurements with statistical analysis to calculate resting metabolic rate and assess thyroid function or medication effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reflexometry was studied with Achilles tendon reflexometry and various pieces of testing equipment were developed in the 1960s and 1970s, then thyroid function assessment was attempted, but the equipment was difficult to operate and use on a subject, and gave somewhat varied results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethyroid function assessment accuracyVSAvoidequipment operation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reflex testing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a controller that generates electrical stimuli, separate measurement circuits for pre-firing and firing intervals, and a display unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying overall operation and improving measurement precision for thyroid function assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If the original studies looked at the height of the waveform and the length of the firing interval, then thyroid events were investigated, but the height of the waveform did not correlate with thyroid events and the descending slope analysis was difficult to determine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethyroid event correlation informationVSAvoiddescending slope measurement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual analysis of waveform slopes with electronic measurement systems that automatically detect and quantify pre-firing and firing intervals. Electrical stimuli and electronic timing circuits substitute for subjective visual interpretation, eliminating the difficulty of determining descending slopes while preserving thyroid event correlation information through precise temporal measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If visually observing millisecond differences in reflex responses was used to assess thyroid function, then reflex response measurement was attempted, but it was difficult to determine millisecond differences accurately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflex response timing accuracyVSAvoidmillisecond difference detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual observation with electronic detection systems that automatically measure pre-firing and firing intervals with millisecond precision. Electrical stimuli trigger automated timing circuits that calculate interval differences electronically, eliminating the difficulty of visually detecting millisecond differences while achieving accurate thyroid function assessment.

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

Provides a non-invasive, easy-to-use method for accurately monitoring thyroid function and medication effects, improving the identification and management of thyroid-related health risks, including sub-clinical hypothyroidism, and reducing the challenges of visually observing millisecond differences in reflex responses.

Implementation Method 1

a spring-loaded plunger/hammer capable of delivering kinetic energy to a reflex point

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a measuring instrument such as an inclinator capable of measuring a reflex response

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8177725B2Reflexometry and hormone function

Publication Date: 2012.05.15 DAAG INT

AI summary

A method including measuring time periods in which a reflex point of a subject is struck and a reflex response is observed. A method including determining a resting metabolic rate of a subject by applying the Kail-Waters equation. An apparatus including a striking instrument capable of delivering a kinetic energy to a reflex point of a subject; and a measurement instrument capable of being coupled to a subject and measuring a reflex response. A machine-readable storage medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method including determining time periods in which a reflex point is struck and a reflex response is observed. A machine-readable storage medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method including determining a resting metabolic rate of a subject by applying the Kail-Waters equation.