Self-Healing Wireless Sensor Network for Low-Latency Medical Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical systems with wireless sensors are complicated to set up, lack flexibility in adding or removing sensors, and require skilled personnel for configuration, especially in devices like CPAP systems and intensive care ventilators.
Innovation Solution
A self-healing wireless network of sensors using a TDMA-based protocol with a deterministic negotiation algorithm allows sensor devices to automatically join or leave the network without manual interaction, ensuring fault tolerance and easy setup, enabling flexible addition or removal of sensors and allowing automatic control algorithms based on available data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless sensors are used in medical systems, then monitoring flexibility and data collection capability are improved, but system setup complexity increases and requires skilled personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic network joining and configuration of wireless sensor devices. When a sensor device enters the wireless range, it automatically negotiates network parameters and joins the TDMA network without manual intervention, eliminating the need for skilled personnel to configure each sensor individually while maintaining full monitoring flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring sensor devices with default settings and establishing a deterministic negotiation algorithm that automatically assigns network parameters before the sensor fully integrates into the system. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for post-deployment configuration and reduces setup complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor devices are added or removed from the network, then system adaptability is improved, but network reconfiguration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by creating a flexible TDMA network where sensor devices can dynamically join and leave without disrupting the overall system operation. The deterministic negotiation algorithm allows new sensors to be automatically integrated into the network timeline, and existing sensors can be removed without manual reconfiguration, maintaining continuous monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where sensor devices continuously report their status and the master device monitors network conditions. When a sensor joins or leaves, the feedback loop automatically triggers negotiation protocol adjustments and time slot reallocations, enabling seamless adaptation without manual intervention and minimizing disruption time
3Reliability
If a deterministic negotiation algorithm is implemented, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by implementing a deterministic negotiation algorithm that systematically varies network parameters such as time slots, frequencies, and power levels according to predefined rules. This structured approach to parameter variation ensures reliable master-slave assignments and network synchronization while maintaining predictable and manageable device complexity through algorithmic determinism
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless sensor device for wireless transmission of sensed medical data to a medical monitoring and/or intervention device. The sensor device has a sensor element for sensing a physical parameter related to a body of a living person or animal. A wireless RF transmitter and receiver serves to transmit data packets with the sensed physical parameter, and to also receive data packets, in accordance with a TDMA based network protocol. A processor system controls operation of the wireless RF transmitter and receiver, including that the sensor device can operate as wireless RF synchronization master or slave, and the sensor device can negotiate according to a deterministic negotiation algorithm to appoint one of a plurality of wireless RF devices connected to the TDMA based network as wireless RF synchronization master, if it is detected that no master is available. This allows a self-healing network, since one of a number of slave devices present in the network session can be appointed as a new master, thus even though the master device becomes out of range or is switched off. This provides a reliable and low latency wireless RF network for medical system, e.g. for a Continuous Positive Air Pressure device (CPAP) which can use sensed data from one or more sensor device to control its air blower to provide an appropriate air pressure.