Wearable Biometric Sensor with Contact Pressure and Pulse Wave Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for non-invasive blood pressure measurement, such as cuff-based methods, face challenges including user proficiency requirements, potential damage to blood vessels, and equipment bulkiness, while cuffless methods have limited accuracy due to factors other than blood pressure.
Innovation Solution
A wearable apparatus equipped with a contact pressure sensor and a pulse wave sensor, mounted in a main body configured to be worn on the wrist, which measures contact pressure and pulse wave signals to calculate biometric information like blood pressure, using a processor that extracts feature points from the signals and applies a measurement model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a cuff-based oscillometric method is used to measure blood pressure, then automated measurement is achieved, but strong pressure is applied causing damage to blood vessels or tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the traditional cuff-based system and implements it in a cuffless wearable device. The contact pressure sensor and pulse wave sensor are used to measure blood pressure without applying strong pressure through a cuff, thereby eliminating damage to blood vessels and tissues while maintaining automated measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cuff-based pressure application system with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of using a mechanical cuff to occlude and measure pressure, the invention uses contact pressure sensors and pulse wave sensors to detect physiological signals and calculate blood pressure, eliminating the harmful mechanical pressure application
2Extent of automation
If a cuff-based oscillometric method is used to measure blood pressure, then automated measurement is achieved, but the equipment becomes bulky and difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional bulky cuff-based blood pressure measurement system into a compact wearable device that can be worn on the wrist. By dividing the measurement function into separate sensors (contact pressure sensor, pulse wave sensor) and processing units, the system achieves automated measurement in a lightweight, portable form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the bulky mechanical cuff and pressure pump system with electronic sensors and signal processing. The contact pressure sensor measures pressure without requiring a large cuff, and the pulse wave sensor detects physiological signals, enabling automated blood pressure measurement in a compact wearable device
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cuffless methods using pulse transit time or pulse wave analysis are used, then non-invasive measurement is achieved, but accuracy is limited due to various influencing factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement approaches by combining contact pressure sensor data with pulse wave sensor data. This multi-parameter measurement system overcomes the limitations of single-method cuffless approaches, improving accuracy by integrating information from different physiological signals while maintaining non-invasive measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the measured contact pressure and pulse wave signals are continuously processed to calculate and refine blood pressure estimates. The system uses the relationship between contact pressure changes and pulse wave characteristics to accurately determine blood pressure values, compensating for various influencing factors through adaptive processing
4Stress or pressure
If the Korotkoff-sound method is used to measure blood pressure, then cuff-based measurement is achieved, but high level of proficiency is required from the measurer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual auscultation method with automated sensor-based detection. Instead of requiring a measurer to listen to Korotkoff sounds through a stethoscope, the invention uses contact pressure sensors and pulse wave sensors to automatically detect and process physiological signals, eliminating the need for specialized measurement skills
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accelerates the measurement process by using electronic sensors that automatically detect and process signals in real-time. The contact pressure sensor and pulse wave sensor continuously monitor physiological parameters and automatically calculate blood pressure, eliminating the time-consuming and skill-dependent manual auscultation process
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 accurate and non-invasive measurement of biometric information, including blood pressure, without the need for a cuff, reducing user variability and equipment-related risks, while being compact and user-friendly.
Implementation Method 1
one or more detectors configured to detect light scattered or reflected from the object which is irradiated by the one or more light sources
Implementation Method 2
one or more detectors configured to detect light scattered or reflected from the object which is irradiated by the one or more light sources
Implementation Method 3
a contact pressure sensor mounted in the main body and configured to measure a contact pressure of the object transmitted through the main body
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for measuring biometric information is provided. The apparatus may include: a main body configured to be worn on an object to be examined. The main body may include a contact pressure sensor configured to measure a contact pressure of the object while a hand shape is changing; a pulse wave sensor configured to measure a pulse wave signal of the object; and a processor configured to measure biometric information on the basis of the measured contact pressure and pulse wave signal.