Non-Invasive Vascular Baroreflex Sympathetic Activity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for measuring vascular sympathetic nervous activity associated with baroreflex function are invasive, limiting their application and making continuous monitoring of blood pressure challenging for cardiovascular disease prevention and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive device and method using pulse-wave data analysis, specifically calculating a VBRSA value through regression analysis and normalization, to detect vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity, allowing for simple and objective evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microneurography is used to measure vascular sympathetic nervous activity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasive procedures requiring needle electrodes and specialized facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive microneurography method with a non-invasive optical system using photoelectric volume pulse wave measurement. The vascular sympathetic nervous activity is detected through optical detection of pulse wave characteristics rather than mechanical needle electrode insertion, eliminating the need for invasive procedures while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photoelectric volume pulse wave as an intermediary parameter to indirectly detect vascular sympathetic nervous activity. Instead of directly measuring neural activity with needle electrodes, the system uses pulse wave characteristics (which are influenced by vascular sympathetic tone) as a mediator to infer the target measurement
2Measurement precision
If microneurography is used to measure vascular sympathetic nervous activity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens due to requirements for specialized facilities and skilled measurers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical microneurography system with a simplified optical detection system. The photoelectric volume pulse wave measurement apparatus eliminates the need for specialized microneurography facilities, skilled measurers, and complex electrode placement procedures, making the measurement system accessible in routine clinical settings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses photoelectric volume pulse wave as a surrogate or copy of direct neural activity measurement. By analyzing characteristics of the pulse wave that reflect vascular sympathetic tone, the system creates an indirect but sufficient representation of the target measurement without requiring direct neural recording infrastructure
3Loss of information
If conventional blood pressure measurement is performed, then blood pressure status is obtained for disease prevention, but the measurement becomes a burden on the body and is troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement of vascular sympathetic nervous activity with routine pulse wave measurement. By integrating multiple assessment functions (blood pressure status, vascular tone, sympathetic activity) into a single non-invasive photoelectric measurement system, it eliminates the need for separate invasive procedures while providing comprehensive cardiovascular information
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous or frequent monitoring without requiring active patient participation beyond providing the pulse wave signal. The photoelectric detection automatically captures cardiovascular parameters during normal activities, transforming blood pressure monitoring from a burdensome periodic procedure into a passive, continuous self-monitoring capability
4Measurement precision
If invasive microneurography is used for vascular sympathetic nervous activity detection, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability worsens due to limitations on action and restricted measurement conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static, condition-restricted microneurography measurements to dynamic, continuous pulse wave-based assessment. The photoelectric volume pulse wave measurement can be performed during various activities and physiological states, providing reliable vascular sympathetic nervous activity data across diverse conditions rather than only in restricted laboratory settings
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem to be Solved] To provide a vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity detection device, a vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity detection program, and a vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity detection method capable of detecting vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity, which is sympathetic nervous activity of a blood vessel involved in a baroreflex function, in a simple and non-invasive manner. [Solution] A vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity detection device 1 that detects vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity, which is sympathetic nervous activity of the blood vessel involved in the baroreflex function, based on pulse wave data on a biological artery and a beat interval corresponding to the pulse wave data, the vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity detection device including a VBRSA-series detecting unit 44 that detects, as a vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity series indicative of vascular baroreflex-related sympathetic activity, a series where, from among the series in which the beat interval increases or decreases by n (n is a natural number 3 or more) beats consecutively, a correlation coefficient for the beat interval and pulse wave data is greater than any positive threshold up to the (n-1)-th beat and the correlation coefficient at the n-th beat falls to or below the threshold.