Physiological Sensor Integrally Formed Tail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Near-infrared sensors used in the medical industry face issues with disconnection and patient discomfort due to movement during procedures, as the cables can become disconnected or cause discomfort when patients are rotated or lie on them.
Innovation Solution
A physiological sensor with a flexible, integrally formed tail and overlay, thinner than the cable, providing sufficient length and a soft, slippery surface to prevent disconnection and discomfort, allowing patients to be moved without risk of cable disconnection or skin abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable is used to connect the sensor to the controller, then the sensor can transmit signals and receive control, but the cable may become disconnected when the patient moves or is rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid cable with a flexible tail that is integrally formed with the circuit board. This flexible tail can bend and move with patient motion without disconnecting, while maintaining electrical connections through flexible printed circuit board technology. The flexible tail is thinner than the cable it replaces, reducing patient discomfort when lying on it.
2Reliability
If a cable is used to connect the sensor, then signal transmission is enabled, but the cable causes patient discomfort when the patient lies on it
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tail is made significantly thinner than the cable it replaces, reducing the pressure and discomfort when the patient lies on it. The flexible printed circuit board technology enables signal transmission through a much thinner substrate that is more comfortable for patient contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The tail is integrally formed with the circuit board, merging the structural support function with the electrical connection function into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate cables and connectors that cause discomfort, while maintaining all necessary signal transmission capabilities.
3Reliability
If the sensor is connected with a cable, then electrical connections are maintained, but the connection may be disrupted when the patient is rotated during procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tail can bend and rotate with patient movement while maintaining continuous electrical connections. The flexible printed circuit board design allows multiple bends and rotations without disconnection, enabling free patient repositioning during medical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The tail is designed to be dynamically flexible rather than statically fixed, allowing it to adapt its shape and position as the patient moves. This dynamic flexibility ensures continuous electrical contact throughout the range of motion required for patient repositioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary sensor includes a sensor pad defining a plurality of openings and a circuit board. The circuit board is at least partially disposed in the sensor pad and has a light source configured to generate near-infrared light and a light detector configured to receive near-infrared light. The light source and the light detector are each aligned with one of the openings of the sensor pad so that near-infrared light generated by the light source can travel through a part of a patient's body to the light detector and the near-infrared light received by the light detector indicates oxygen saturation of the part of the patient's body through which the light travelled. The circuit board further includes an integrally formed tail at least partially disposed in the sensor pad. Additionally, the sensor pad includes an overlay disposed on the tail.