Suprasternal Pressure Sensing for Single-Sensor Heart Rate Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying sleep apnea are burdensome and require multiple sensors, which can be uncomfortable, invasive, and difficult to use, and existing suprasternal notch pressure sensors process data in the audio range, necessitating high computing power and privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method using a suprasternal notch pressure sensor to detect both respiratory and cardiac components in a single signal, employing algorithms to filter and analyze the data to determine heart rate, allowing for accurate heart rate estimation and improved respiratory signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to track respiratory and cardiac processes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines respiratory and cardiac process tracking into a single suprasternal notch pressure sensor that captures both signal types simultaneously. The sensor records pressure variations containing both respiratory effort information and cardiac oscillations, eliminating the need for separate sensors while maintaining measurement precision through signal processing algorithms that separate the mixed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pressure sensor performs multiple functions by detecting both respiratory processes (respiratory effort, breathing rate) and cardiac processes (heart rate, pulse rate variability) from the same location. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional requirement for multiple specialized sensors, simplifying the device while preserving diagnostic capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If suprasternal notch pressure sensor is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to cardiac artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful cardiac oscillations (artifacts) into useful information by extracting heart rate and pulse rate variability data from them. Instead of treating cardiac signals as noise to be eliminated, the methodology uses them as a valuable component, allowing simultaneous monitoring of both respiratory and cardiac processes from the same sensor while improving overall measurement utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts distinct respiratory and cardiac components from the mixed pressure signal through algorithmic separation. By isolating the respiratory component from the combined signal while preserving the cardiac component for separate analysis, the system maintains ease of single-sensor operation while recovering high-quality respiratory measurements free from cardiac contamination.
3Measurement precision
If audio range sampling is used for suprasternal notch sensor, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases and privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sampling parameter from traditional audio range (excess of 44.1 kHz) to a lower frequency range (1024 Hz) that is sufficient for detecting breathing sounds and pressure variations. This parameter reduction decreases computational power requirements and energy consumption while maintaining the ability to accurately detect respiratory processes, and additionally reduces privacy concerns by not capturing human voice frequencies.
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
Enables accurate heart rate determination and improved respiratory signal quality using a single sensor, facilitating better sleep apnea identification and reducing computational requirements and privacy issues.
Implementation Method 1
A suprasternal notch pressure sensor may be used to detect suprasternal pressure of a subject, which may be indicative of pressure swings happening in the subject's trachea
Implementation Method 2
applying at least one filter to the data to obtain first filtered data, the at least one filter comprising a first filter to attenuate the first component of the signal in the data based on the determined respiration parameter
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method for determining a heart rate of a subject, the method comprising: receiving data representing a signal generated by a pressure sensor configured to be placed on a suprasternal notch of a subject, the data representing a first component of the signal comprising respiratory information associated with the subject and/or a second component of the signal comprising cardiac information associated with the subject; determining, by applying a first algorithm to the data, a respiration parameter of the subject; applying at least one filter to the data to obtain first filtered data, the at least one filter comprising a first filter to attenuate the first component of the signal in the data based on the determined respiration parameter; and determining a heart rate of the subject by applying a second algorithm to the first filtered data.