Electronic Sphygmomanometer Dual Sensor Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic sphygmomanometers for home use lack mechanisms to ensure the precision and reliability of blood pressure measurements over time, as they are not periodically corrected for sensor drift or external disturbances, leading to uncertainty about measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a peripheral structure for pressure sensors, including a shielding plate and air tube configuration that distributes stress uniformly between two pressure sensors, enhancing the reliability of blood pressure measurements by averaging cuff pressures and detecting sensor abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two pressure sensors are used in medical facility sphygmomanometers for safety monitoring, then safety is ensured by detecting abnormalities, but the precision of blood pressure measurement is not guaranteed and malfunction rate doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of both pressure sensors into blood pressure measurement calculation. The CPU calculates blood pressure based on cuff pressure information from both first and second pressure sensors, thereby utilizing both sensors for precision measurement rather than one for safety only. This resolves the contradiction by making both sensors contribute to measurement precision while maintaining safety through abnormality detection based on both sensor outputs.
Solution Approach 2:
Both pressure sensors are designed to serve multiple functions: they both contribute to blood pressure calculation and both participate in abnormality detection. The system determines abnormality based on comparing outputs from both sensors, making each sensor universal in its application rather than having separate dedicated functions. This multi-functionality ensures both precision and safety simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensor output deviates beyond tolerance margin, then measurement accuracy is compromised, but there is no way to know that this has happened
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the outputs of both pressure sensors and comparing them. The CPU determines whether an abnormality has occurred based on the relationship between the outputs of the first and second pressure sensors. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about sensor status, allowing the system to detect when a sensor deviates beyond acceptable ranges and adjust or alert accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary abnormality detection by comparing sensor outputs before final blood pressure values are used. The CPU determines abnormality based on the relationship between both sensor outputs, allowing early detection of sensor issues before they compromise measurement accuracy. This preliminary action prevents use of potentially inaccurate measurements.
3Device complexity
If one pressure sensor is used for blood pressure calculation, then the system is simpler, but the precision cannot be guaranteed over time due to sensor drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outputs of both pressure sensors in the blood pressure calculation process. The CPU uses cuff pressure information from both the first and second pressure sensors to calculate blood pressure, thereby merging their functions. This combination compensates for individual sensor drift and maintains measurement reliability over time without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of using multiple sensor inputs for calculation. By basing blood pressure calculation on cuff pressure information from both pressure sensors rather than a single sensor, the system improves reliability over time. The CPU processes and combines the parameter data from both sensors, compensating for individual sensor degradation or drift.
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 configuration improves the reliability of blood pressure measurements by reducing the impact of external stress on sensors and ensuring accurate readings, even when one sensor's accuracy fluctuates over time, thereby enhancing user confidence in measurement values.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor used in an electronic sphygmomanometer measures pressures of fluids, liquids, and so on using a pressure-sensitive element via a diaphragm (a stainless steel diaphragm, a silicon diaphragm, or the like), converts the measurement into an electric signal, and outputs the signal
Data Source
AI summary
In an electronic sphygmomanometer, a protruding member is provided in an outside surface of a first air port connection head, and when a first air port is pushed into the first air port connection head, the protruding member passes over a first shielding plate while elastically deforming and reaches a position on the inner side of the first shielding plate. As a result, the first air port connection head is prevented from pulling out from the first air port, and a sense of the protruding member locking in upon returning to its original form is imparted on a worker. It is therefore possible to provide an electronic sphygmomanometer that includes, as a structure in which a pressure sensor used in the electronic sphygmomanometer is disposed, a peripheral structure for the pressure sensor that can improve the reliability of blood pressure measurement values.