Sleep Pulse Oximetry Adjustment Using Posture and Motion Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices face challenges in accurately measuring oxygen saturation due to movements and changes in posture during sleep, leading to errors in pulse oximetry readings.

Innovation Solution

The device includes a first sensor to detect movements and a second sensor to measure oxygen saturation, with a processor adjusting the oxygen saturation value based on a maintained posture for a predetermined period, using an oxygen saturation reference value stored in memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If reflective-type pulse oximetry is used in wearable devices, then the device can be made compact and wearable, but measurement precision deteriorates due to erroneous factors such as path difference between wavelengths, optical shunt, and pressure from body parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidoxygen saturation measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting movement before oxygen saturation measurement to determine whether the user is in a stable posture. This preliminary detection allows the system to decide whether to adjust the measurement based on predetermined criteria, thereby preventing inaccurate measurements from being recorded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the movement sensor to continuously monitor the user's posture and adjusts the oxygen saturation measurement accordingly. When movement is detected, the system compares the current measurement with predetermined values and makes adjustments, creating a closed-loop control system that improves measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the device continuously measures oxygen saturation during sleep, then more data is collected, but measurement precision deteriorates due to user movements and posture changes causing optical shunt and pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidoxygen saturation measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The movement sensor provides continuous feedback about the user's posture and movement. The system uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the oxygen saturation measurement process, comparing current measurements with predetermined values and making corrections when movement or posture changes are detected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces continuous mechanical measurement with a hybrid approach that uses sensor data (movement detection) to control the measurement process. This allows the system to maintain data collection efficiency while filtering out inaccurate measurements caused by movement and posture changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the sensor is in contact with the body part to enable pulse oximetry, then the measurement can be performed non-invasively, but measurement precision deteriorates due to gap between body part and sensor and relative location between heart organ and measurement location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-invasive measurementVSAvoidoxygen saturation measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct mechanical contact verification with optical path monitoring. By detecting movement and comparing it with predetermined values, the system infers information about the optical path quality without requiring direct mechanical verification of contact or positioning.

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

This approach stabilizes the measurement by adjusting oxygen saturation values to fall within a normal range, ensuring accurate readings despite user movements and posture changes during sleep.

Implementation Method 1

a first sensor configured to detect a movement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMotion detection:

Implementation Method 2

measures an oxygen saturation using the rate of light absorbance of arterial blood, the amount of which is temporarily increased due to cardiac output, in two wavelengths (RED and infrared)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulse oximetry: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS12465291B2Electronic device adjusting oxygen saturation and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a first sensor configured to detect a movement, a second sensor configured to measure an oxygen saturation, a memory, and at least one processor operatively connected to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the memory, and the at least one processor is configured to identify whether a period in which a posture is maintained before a movement is detected is greater than or equal to a predetermined period based on a movement greater than or equal to a predetermined value being detected via the first sensor, to identify an oxygen saturation reference value stored in the memory based on the period in which the posture is maintained before the movement is detected being greater than or equal to the predetermined period, and to adjust, based on the oxygen saturation reference value, an oxygen saturation value obtained via the second sensor during the period in which the posture is maintained before the movement is detected.