Smart Surface Therapy Control for Precise Body Part Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack an efficient and effective way to deliver therapy to specific body parts based on sensed biological parameters while a person is in contact with a surface, such as a mattress, which limits the ability to provide targeted and time-efficient therapy.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising spatially distributed physical sensors and therapy devices on or in a substrate that uses a processor to identify specific body parts by comparing sensor readings to reference values and virtual data, determining the appropriate therapy device for each part, and generating control signals to deliver therapy effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If therapy is delivered using a surface contact system (e.g., mattress), then therapy delivery convenience and time efficiency are improved, but targeted delivery to specific body parts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the substrate into multiple discrete sensor locations, each capable of independently detecting biological parameters. This segmentation allows the system to identify specific body parts in contact with different sensor zones, enabling targeted therapy delivery while maintaining overall system convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different functional characteristics to different regions of the substrate. Each sensor location can detect specific biological parameters and trigger localized therapy responses, allowing targeted treatment of specific body parts while the rest of the surface continues to provide general support and monitoring.
2Measurement precision
If multiple physical sensors are spatially distributed on the substrate to enable targeted sensing, then body part identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal sensor nodes that can perform multiple functions: detecting various biological parameters, identifying body part locations, and triggering appropriate therapy responses. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized sensors for each task, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses virtual sensors that replicate the functionality of physical sensors in a digital model of the substrate surface. This virtual copying allows complex sensor data processing and body part identification without requiring additional physical hardware, thereby improving identification accuracy while controlling device complexity.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring of biological parameters is implemented, then therapy delivery effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of biological parameters rather than continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at specified intervals, which maintains therapy delivery effectiveness by detecting significant physiological changes while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs threshold-based automatic triggering where sensors monitor biological parameters and automatically initiate therapy when predetermined thresholds are exceeded. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for constant system intervention and processing, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable therapy delivery when actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system enabling delivery of a therapy type is provided. The method includes receiving a value of a parameter measured by physical sensors while a mammal is in contact with a first subset of the physical sensors. A second subset of the physical sensors, whose received value differs from a predetermined reference value of an environmental parameter, is determined. A physical part subset of the second subset, corresponding to a specified body part, is determined by utilizing the second subset and virtual data for identifying virtual sensors spatially distributed to map a space occupied by the mammal's body parts. In response, a therapy device positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the specified body part to effectively deliver the specified therapy type to the specified body part, is determined and a control signal is generated and transmitted to the associated therapy device.