Vital Parameter-Based Selective Alerting System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for alerting caregivers in infant care and healthcare settings often wake up unnecessary individuals, leading to increased stress and disrupted rest periods, as they alert all possible persons rather than selectively targeting the most suitable individual based on vital parameters.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses an evaluation unit to measure vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep depth to selectively alert only the most suitable person for an event, minimizing stress and ensuring that only the necessary individual is awakened, using a combination of sensors, control units, and a computer program to determine the most appropriate person for alerting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all possible persons are alerted when an event occurs, then the probability that someone notices the event increases, but the stress and disruption to each person increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobability that someone notices the eventVSAvoidstress and disruption to persons
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of alerting from a static 'alert all' approach to a dynamic approach where the selection of persons to alert is based on real-time evaluation of vital parameters (sleep depth, activity level, stress state). This allows the system to adapt to the current state of each person and minimize disruption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of vital parameters before issuing an alert. By assessing sleep depth, activity level, and stress state in advance, the system can pre-determine which persons are most suitable to be alerted, thereby avoiding unnecessary disruption to persons who are not in an optimal state to respond to alerts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple persons are alerted simultaneously, then the response coverage increases, but the overall stress on the group increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse coverageVSAvoidoverall stress on the group
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the number of persons alerted based on the evaluation of vital parameters. Instead of a fixed 'alert all' or 'alert none' approach, the system selectively alerts only those persons whose current physiological state indicates they are best suited to respond, thereby optimizing response coverage while minimizing group stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by alerting only a subset of available persons rather than all persons. By selecting and alerting only the most suitable individual(s) based on vital parameter evaluation, the system achieves sufficient response coverage without the excessive stress that would result from alerting everyone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If an alarm is issued to wake a sleeping person, then immediate attention to the event is achieved, but the person's rest and recovery are disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time to eventVSAvoiddisruption to rest and recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses real-time monitoring of vital parameters (particularly sleep depth) to dynamically determine the optimal moment and target for alerting. By evaluating sleep depth parameters, the system can issue alerts during lighter sleep phases or to persons who are already partially awake, thereby achieving fast response times while minimizing disruption to rest and recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static alerting approach to a dynamic one where the decision to alert is based on continuously changing vital parameters. By monitoring sleep depth, activity level, and stress state in real-time, the system can adapt its alerting strategy to minimize disruption while maintaining fast response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3522170B1System for alerting a person
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3522170B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a system comprising an evaluation unit 1 that can detect the occurrence of an event and, upon its occurrence, alert and/or inform a plurality of persons 2, 3 about the event. The system includes a control unit 6, 7 and a sensor 8, 9 for each person 2, 3. The control unit 6, 7 can be connected to the evaluation unit 1 for data exchange. The sensor 8, 9 can measure a vital parameter of the respective person 2, 3. The system is configured such that when the evaluation unit 1 detects the occurrence of an event, at least one person 3 from the plurality of persons 2, 3 is selected based on the measured vital parameters, and only the at least one selected person 3 is alerted. The invention further relates to a use, a method, and a computer program product. The stress caused by the alarm can thus be reduced for the individuals overall.