Sphygmomanometer Sensor Self-Diagnosis via Channel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household electronic sphygmomanometers often lack calibration, leading to uncertainty in blood pressure measurements due to potential pressure sensor errors, and multiple sensor systems in medical devices increase costs and size, failing to detect sensor malfunctions when all sensors fail.
Innovation Solution
An electronic sphygmomanometer with a cuff, tank, pressure adjusting unit, pressure detector, blood pressure calculating unit, and abnormality detector that uses a channel switching unit to selectively connect the tank or cuff to detect pressure sensor abnormalities, allowing for external output and storage of detection results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple pressure sensors are mounted to detect sensor malfunctions, then sensor abnormality detection capability is improved, but device cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single pressure sensor to serve dual purposes: measuring blood pressure during normal operation and detecting sensor abnormalities during calibration mode. The control unit switches the sensor between these two functions, eliminating the need for separate sensors for each purpose while maintaining both capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis by using its own pressure sensor to detect abnormalities through calibration mode. The control unit automatically initiates calibration, compares measured pressure against predetermined ranges, and determines sensor status without requiring external testing equipment or additional sensors, enabling the device to self-verify its measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensor output is outside tolerance range, then measurement accuracy may be compromised, but there is no way of knowing this without calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration action by automatically initiating calibration mode before normal blood pressure measurement. This preliminary step establishes the baseline pressure and determines sensor status in advance, ensuring the sensor is within tolerance range before actual measurements are taken, thereby preventing loss of measurement accuracy information.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback by continuously monitoring the pressure sensor output during calibration, comparing it against predetermined tolerance ranges, and providing information about sensor status. This feedback loop ensures that measurement accuracy is verified and the system is aware of whether the sensor is functioning within acceptable parameters.
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 reliability of blood pressure measurements by detecting pressure sensor abnormalities, improving user confidence and reducing anxiety from measurement uncertainties, while minimizing device size and cost through selective sensor usage.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure detector including a pressure sensor and for detecting a pressure in the cuff or a pressure in the tank based on pressure information output from the pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
a pressure adjusting unit that adjusts pressurization of the cuff or the tank by supplying or discharging the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic sphygmomanometer includes a cuff, a tank that stores a prescribed amount of fluid, a pressure adjusting unit that adjusts pressurization of the cuff or the tank by supplying or discharging the fluid, a pressure detector that detects a pressure in the cuff or a pressure in the tank based on pressure information output from a pressure sensor, a blood pressure calculating unit that calculates a blood pressure value based on a change in the pressure in the cuff detected by the pressure detector, an abnormality detector, and a first channel through to the pressure adjusting unit and the pressure detector and that has one of the tank and the cuff selectively connected thereto. The abnormality detector detects whether the pressure sensor is abnormal in a state where the tank is connected to the first channel and the fluid is supplied to the tank.