Textile Oxygen Saturation Sensor with Elastic Cross-Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen saturation sensors face challenges with signal-to-noise ratio and user comfort due to alignment issues between photodiodes and photoemitters, which can lead to pressure marks and increased operating costs, especially in reusable designs with complex carrier bodies.
Innovation Solution
A textile-based oxygen saturation sensor with a resiliently variable cross-sectional shape, accommodating a light-emitting diode and radiation detector, allowing for elastic deformation to securely fit various body sizes without altering the angular relationship between the components, thus maintaining consistent measurement properties and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a reusable sensor with a complex carrier body is used, then the sensor can be reused, but it becomes difficult to clean and disinfect
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into a reusable carrier body and a disposable sensor part. The carrier body can be cleaned and disinfected, while the sensor part with the photodiode and photoemitter is discarded after use. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the reusable component to maintain cleanability while enabling reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor part containing the photodiode and photoemitter is designed as a disposable component. This eliminates the need to clean and disinfect the sensitive optical components, maintaining cleanability of the reusable carrier body while enabling reuse through disposal of the single-use sensor part.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor position is changed regularly to avoid pressure marks, then user comfort is maintained, but operating costs increase due to frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier body is designed with elastic properties that allow it to adapt dynamically to different finger sizes and shapes. The elastic carrier body can be stretched or compressed to fit various measurements, maintaining consistent contact pressure without causing marks, thereby improving user comfort while reducing the need for frequent repositioning or replacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the photodiode and photoemitter alignment depends on finger size, then the sensor can accommodate different users, but the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor part is designed with specific geometric dimensions that ensure proper alignment of the photodiode and photoemitter regardless of finger size. By optimizing the local dimensions of the sensor part relative to the carrier body, consistent optical alignment is maintained across different users, preserving signal quality while accommodating various finger sizes.
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
The sensor provides improved measurement properties and user comfort by ensuring consistent signal quality and reducing the need for frequent sensor adjustments and replacements, while being easily cleanable and adaptable for both disposable and reusable configurations.
Implementation Method 1
An oxygen saturation sensor has at least one light-emitting diode (LED), for example a red LED and/or an infrared LED
Implementation Method 2
at least one radiation detector, for example a photodiode
Implementation Method 3
a textile basic structure extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis, wherein the basic structure has a resiliently variable cross-sectional shape
Data Source
AI summary
An oxygen saturation sensor includes a textile basic structure extending in a direction of a longitudinal axis. The basic structure has a resiliently variable cross-sectional shape, so that the oxygen saturation sensor can be fixed to a measurement site. The oxygen saturation sensor also includes a light-emitting diode and a radiation detector. The light-emitting diode and the radiation detector are accommodated in or on the basic structure and are thus arranged in a cross-sectional plane of the basic structure.