Vital Zone Sensor Garment for Precise Trauma Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothing with embedded sensors fails to accurately detect the location and severity of injuries caused by projectiles or stabbing weapons, as they only generate a single signal indicating a broken optical waveguide without providing information on the impact location, leading to unprepared rescue teams and missed detection of potentially severe trauma or fatal injuries.
Innovation Solution
The integration of electrical circuits or piezo elements arranged in zones corresponding to vital organs, which detect pressure and generate signals to indicate the precise location of impacts, allowing for the identification of stab wounds, gunshot wounds, and blows, and continuous monitoring of vital functions like heartbeat and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensors (optical waveguides) are used to detect injuries, then the system can detect projectile penetration, but it cannot determine the precise location of the injury on the body
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into multiple zones, each containing separate optical waveguides or electrical circuits. When a projectile penetrates a specific zone, only the sensors in that zone are affected, allowing precise localization of the injury to a specific body region. This segmentation transforms a single undifferentiated detection signal into multiple localized signals that preserve spatial information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point detection system to a distributed two-dimensional array of sensors across the garment surface. By arranging optical waveguides or electrical circuits in a spatial pattern corresponding to body zones, the system adds dimensional information to the detection, enabling identification of injury location in addition to injury occurrence.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single optical waveguide is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot detect multiple injuries or distinguish between different types of trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional sensor system where multiple optical waveguides or electrical circuits serve different detection purposes. The same basic sensor technology detects various injury types (projectile penetration, stabbing wounds, blows) by monitoring different physical parameters (optical fiber interruption, electrical circuit disruption, pressure changes), making the system universally applicable to multiple trauma types without requiring completely different detection mechanisms for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into a single integrated garment system. Different sensor types (optical waveguides, electrical circuits, piezo elements) are merged into one cohesive protective garment that simultaneously monitors for various injury types, consolidating what would otherwise require separate detection systems into a unified multi-functional platform.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical waveguides are used to detect injuries, then projectile penetration can be detected, but blows and trauma cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite sensing approach combining multiple detection technologies (optical waveguides, electrical circuits, piezoelectric elements) within the same garment. Each sensor type is optimized for detecting specific injury mechanisms: optical waveguides for projectile penetration, electrical circuits for cutting wounds, and piezo elements for blunt force trauma. This composite sensor system ensures reliable detection across all injury types by leveraging the strengths of each detection method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful mechanical forces of different injury types into useful detection signals through appropriate sensor selection. Blunt force trauma, which previously went undetected, is now converted into electrical signals by piezoelectric elements that generate voltage in response to impact forces, transforming an undetectable harm into a detectable and actionable signal.
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 precise detection of injury locations and severity, allowing for timely and appropriate response by rescue teams, reducing false alarms and ensuring prompt medical intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors have a piezoelectric polymer film that is suitable for detecting a mechanical impact
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a piece of clothing (1) for a human body having sensors (2) which detect external influences and forward a signal to an evaluation unit (3). The sensors (2) are designed as electrical circuits and/or elements having sensor characteristics based on the piezo effect. The sensors (2) are arranged at least in zones (4) of the piece of clothing (1) which are adjacent to vital organs.