Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography Device with Folded Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography (RIP) devices struggle to distinguish breathing movements from other nocturnal movements and fail to determine patient position, requiring additional sensors, and are often disposable and uncomfortable due to connection cables, leading to potential measurement errors and variability.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with stretchable bands featuring electrically conductive wires that can be connected in a single detection system to determine both respiratory events and patient position, including dorsal position, using a combination of wires oriented in different directions and a central unit for data processing, ensuring reliable measurements with authorized disposable bands and minimizing discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors such as cameras or 3D accelerometers are used to determine patient position, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive wire of the RIP belt is made to serve dual functions: measuring respiratory movements through inductance variations and determining patient position through the same inductance measurements. The wire acts as both the sensing element for breathing detection and the positioning sensor, eliminating the need for separate sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the respiratory measurement function and position determination function into a single integrated system using the same conductive wire and oscillator. Both functions share the same hardware components (wire, oscillator, measurement circuit), merging what were previously separate monitoring capabilities into one unified device.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable RIP belts are used with non-dedicated oscillators, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines patient position by analyzing changes in the inductance parameter of the conductive wire at different orientations. The oscillator frequency and inductance measurements are used to detect positional changes, transforming the same measurement parameter (inductance) into positional information through parameter analysis rather than requiring separate sensing mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If connection cables are attached to the wearable device, then ease of operation is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the connection cable from the wearable RIP belt design. The belt is made completely wireless with the oscillator and processing unit integrated into the belt itself or placed remotely without requiring physical cable connections, eliminating the source of patient discomfort while maintaining full functionality.
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 concurrent detection of apnea events and patient position using a single device, providing reliable and comfortable monitoring by limiting the need for additional sensors and ensuring consistent measurement quality with authorized disposable bands.
Implementation Method 1
The resonance frequency of the plethysmography wire loop varies during the breath of the patient since the area of the loop varies. The variation of the inductance of the wire loops related to the two belts can be analysed to determine the apnea events of the patient during the sleep.
Implementation Method 2
The wire comprises a folded portion which can be extended when the stretchable band is stretched in the second direction D2. The inductive loop thus comprises said folded portion and the non-folded conductive portions of the wire, wherein at least the folded portion, or only the folded portion, is oriented along the second stretch direction D2.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a Respiratory Induction Plethysmography device comprising at least one folded wire extendable in a first direction (D1) and at least one second wire extendable in a second direction (D2), each of these wires being operated at different frequencies. The present invention further relates to disposable stretchable bands adapted therefor and to a method of RIP measurement, adapted for the identification of dorsal apnea.