Sensor Unit for Compression Therapy Monitoring Pressure and Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compression therapy systems for venous insufficiency are inadequate for patients with both venous insufficiency and arterial occlusive disease, as they lack comprehensive monitoring of pressure and oxygen saturation, leading to potential tissue damage and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sensor unit integrated with a pressure sensor and a pulse oximetric oxygen sensor on a flexible circuit board, capable of wireless data transmission to a computer, which monitors pressure and oxygen saturation to prevent acute failures and ensure safe compression therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If compression therapy is applied to patients with venous insufficiency and peripheral arterial disease, then treatment effectiveness may be improved, but risk of tissue damage increases due to insufficient blood flow monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit continuously monitors oxygen saturation and pressure levels, providing real-time feedback to the compression therapy system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust compression pressure dynamically to maintain adequate blood flow while ensuring treatment effectiveness, thereby preventing tissue damage without compromising productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical pressure monitoring with an optical measurement system (pulse oximetry) to assess blood flow status. This substitution allows for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation, providing earlier warning signs of compromised blood flow before mechanical pressure alone would indicate danger.
2Productivity
If compression pressure is increased to improve venous insufficiency treatment, then treatment efficacy improves, but blood flow to treated body parts may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit provides continuous feedback on oxygen saturation and pressure levels, enabling the compression therapy system to adjust pressure levels in real-time. This ensures that compression pressure remains high enough for treatment efficacy while automatically reducing it when blood flow compromise is detected, maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static pressure application to dynamic, adaptive compression therapy. The compression pressure is continuously adjusted based on real-time sensor data from the sensor unit, allowing the system to optimize treatment efficacy while maintaining adequate blood flow through dynamic pressure modulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If compression therapy is avoided in high-risk patients to prevent tissue damage, then safety is improved, but treatment effectiveness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit enables continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation and pressure, providing early warning signs of compromised blood flow. This feedback allows compression therapy to be safely applied to high-risk patients by detecting and preventing tissue damage before it occurs, thereby maintaining both safety and treatment effectiveness simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit detects potential blood flow compromise before it leads to tissue damage. By providing early warning through continuous oxygen saturation and pressure monitoring, the system enables preliminary intervention to adjust compression pressure, preventing tissue damage while maintaining treatment effectiveness in high-risk patients.
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
Enhances the safety of compression therapy by simultaneously monitoring pressure and oxygen saturation, making it accessible to a broader patient group and reducing the risk of tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor (3), and a pulse oximetric oxygen sensor (4)... monitoring the pressure acting on the treated body part
Implementation Method 2
a pulse oximetric oxygen sensor (4)... monitoring the oxygen saturation of the arterial blood
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor unit (1, 7) for compression therapy comprising a substrate (2), a pressure sensor (3), and a pulse oximetric oxygen sensor (4). The pressure sensor (3) and the oxygen sensor (4) are arranged on the substrate (2). Measured values from the pressure sensor (3) and the oxygen sensor (4) can be transmitted to a computer to monitor the compression therapy. The invention also relates to a kit, a compression agent, and a compression therapy system comprising the sensor unit (1, 7). Finally, the invention also relates to a manufacturing method for the sensor unit (1, 7) and a use of the sensor unit (1, 7) for compression therapy.