SEM Sensing in Medical Devices for Early Tissue Damage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices can cause prolonged pressure on patient skin, leading to tissue damage and potential pressure ulcers due to prolonged contact, which is difficult to detect early without clinical examination.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method using sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) sensors with electrodes to measure capacitance and detect changes in tissue moisture levels, indicating potential tissue damage by comparing incremental SEM values to thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If medical devices are in prolonged contact with patient skin to treat conditions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage and pressure ulcer risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of device contactVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of tissue damage by measuring sub-epidermal moisture levels before actual pressure ulcers develop. The electrodes continuously monitor SEM values and compare them against threshold values, enabling early warning and intervention before irreversible tissue damage occurs, thus allowing prolonged device contact while preventing harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If prolonged pressure is applied by medical devices on patient skin, then device stability and treatment continuity are improved, but sub-epidermal moisture increases indicating tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidsub-epidermal moisture

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback monitoring by measuring sub-epidermal moisture levels through electrodes and comparing them against predetermined threshold values. When the SEM value exceeds the threshold, the system generates an alert, enabling real-time adjustment of device contact pressure to prevent tissue damage while maintaining treatment stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If early detection of tissue damage is implemented through SEM measurement, then prevention of pressure ulcers is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical pressure ulcer detection methods with electrical field-based capacitance sensing. Two electrodes measure sub-epidermal moisture through electrical impedance, a simpler and more reliable method that provides early detection of tissue damage without requiring complex mechanical sensors or imaging systems.

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

Early detection of tissue damage through SEM measurement allows for timely intervention to prevent pressure ulcers by adjusting device contact pressure.

Implementation Method 1

an electronics package individually connected to the first and second electrodes and configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12350064B2Detection of tissue damage

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 BRUIN BIOMETRICS LLC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for detection of tissue damage in patients using a medical device for an extended period of time are disclosed.