Sensor-Assisted Health Quality Evaluation via Speech Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are burdensome and subjective, relying on questionnaires that are prone to individual variability and lack objective biological markers, especially for assessing compliance with rehabilitation programs.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses sensors to generate data for heart rate and blood pressure, combined with speech analysis, to determine biological markers indicative of pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression, allowing for objective evaluation of HRQOL and rehabilitation program compliance by comparing these markers against established baselines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If questionnaires are used to evaluate HRQOL, then the evaluation can cover multiple dimensions including physical, mental, and social functioning, but the process becomes burdensome and highly subjective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubjectivity of evaluationVSAvoidcomplexity of evaluation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual questionnaire administration and analysis with an automated sensor-based system. Sensors continuously collect physiological data (heart rate, blood pressure, galvanic skin response) and speech data, which are then automatically processed by a computing device to generate objective HRQOL metrics, eliminating the subjective human element while maintaining comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service evaluation where the individual's own physiological responses and speech patterns serve as the measurement data. The sensors automatically monitor and record the individual's biological markers without requiring active participation in questionnaires, allowing the evaluation to occur naturally during daily activities while the computing device autonomously analyzes the data and compares it against baseline values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual assessment of rehabilitation program compliance is performed, then medical personnel can evaluate individual cases, but the process is time-consuming and subjective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobjectivity of compliance assessmentVSAvoidefficiency of assessment process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual medical personnel assessment with an automated sensor-based monitoring system. The sensors continuously collect physiological data that objectively reflect rehabilitation compliance (such as heart rate during exercise, blood pressure responses), and the computing device automatically analyzes this data to determine compliance status, eliminating subjectivity while dramatically increasing assessment efficiency and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous monitoring of physiological parameters throughout the rehabilitation process rather than intermittent manual assessments. Sensors continuously collect data on heart rate, blood pressure, and other biomarkers, providing an unbroken stream of objective compliance information that the computing device processes in real-time, ensuring continuous evaluation without interruption or loss of data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If speech analysis is used to determine biological markers of pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression, then objective measurement of these dimensions is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobjectivity of biological marker determinationVSAvoidcomplexity of sensor and analysis system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-functional system where a single computing device integrates multiple analysis capabilities: processing sensor data from various physiological sensors, analyzing speech patterns for emotional and pain indicators, comparing current measurements against baseline values, and generating comprehensive HRQOL reports. This universal platform handles all measurement and analysis functions through one integrated system, managing complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3403235B1Sensor assisted evaluation of health and rehabilitation
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3403235B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3403235B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3403235B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In one aspect, a method of evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL), comprises receiving, using a processor, sensor data for a user; determining, using the processor, a first biological marker for the user from the sensor data, wherein the first biological marker is indicative of a first dimension of HRQOL; performing, using the processor, speech analysis on user provided speech to determine a second biological marker indicative of a second dimension of HRQOL; comparing, using the processor, the first biological marker and the second biological marker with a baseline for the first biological marker and a baseline for the second biological marker, respectively; and outputting, using the processor, a result of the comparing.