Vital-Signs Patch Store-and-Forward Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for continuously monitoring vital signs in hospital settings are intrusive, difficult to perform on a continuous basis, and often require manual intervention, leading to potential errors and inadequate patient observation, especially during busy periods in emergency rooms.
Innovation Solution
A vital-signs monitoring system comprising a patch with sensors, a transmitter, receiver, memory, and processor that measures and stores vital signs data, allowing for periodic transmission to a bridge and central server, enabling continuous, non-invasive monitoring with minimal disruption to patient mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual vital sign measurement is performed at regular intervals, then patient monitoring is achieved, but nurse workload increases and patient mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement processes with an automated electronic monitoring system. Sensors continuously detect vital signs (heart rate, respiration, temperature) and transmit data wirelessly to a base station, eliminating the need for nurses to physically measure and record vital signs at intervals. This substitution maintains monitoring reliability while freeing patients from mobility restrictions associated with manual measurement procedures.
2Reliability
If continuous vital sign monitoring is implemented, then patient safety is improved, but measurement intrusiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from intrusive manual procedures and implements it through minimally invasive sensors. The monitoring system uses sensors that can detect vital signs through wireless or minimally invasive methods, separating the continuous monitoring function from the intrusive aspects of traditional measurement. This allows continuous monitoring for patient safety while reducing measurement intrusiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication technology as an intermediary between the sensors and the monitoring system. This intermediary enables continuous data transmission without requiring physical connection or intrusive measurement procedures, allowing patient safety monitoring while minimizing interference with patient comfort and mobility.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If automated sensing and wireless transmission are used, then monitoring continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into separate functional modules: sensors for detecting vital signs, a wireless transmitter for data transmission, and a base station for receiving and processing data. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, maintaining monitoring continuity while managing system complexity through modular design. The sensor module can continuously monitor and store data locally, ensuring continuity even when transmission occurs intermittently.
Data Source
AI summary
A vital-signs patch for a patient monitoring system that includes a housing containing a sensor that makes physiological measurements of a patient, a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a processor. The processor periodically takes a measurement from the sensor, converts the measurement to a data record, and stores the data record in the memory. Upon receipt of a signal from another device, the processor retrieves at least a portion of the data record, converts the retrieved portion of the data record to a vital-sign signal, and causes the transmitter to transmit the vital-sign signal to the other device.