Wearable System for Carbon Monoxide Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective and immediate methods for detecting and monitoring low levels of carbon monoxide and other air pollutants, which can lead to health issues including respiratory diseases, heart problems, and even death, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant women.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system comprising a wearable device with sensors that detect biochemical and physiological vital signs as well as environmental parameters, such as carbon monoxide levels, and transmit data to a computerized device for analysis and alert generation if thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional air quality monitoring methods are used, then air pollution levels can be monitored, but they lack immediacy and portability, requiring fixed locations and complex infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex fixed monitoring infrastructure with portable wearable devices containing integrated sensors. The mechanical/structural complexity of fixed monitoring stations is substituted with miniaturized sensor arrays that can be worn on the body, enabling mobile monitoring without sacrificing detection capability through the use of multiple sensor types (electrochemical, optical, metal-organic frameworks)
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device serves multiple functions: it monitors various pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter), tracks physiological responses (heart rate, respiratory rate), and provides real-time alerts. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate systems into a single portable unit
2Loss of information
If fixed air quality monitoring stations are deployed, then comprehensive air quality data can be collected, but they cannot provide real-time personal exposure information and require complex infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-monitoring of personal air quality exposure through wearable devices that individuals wear themselves. Each user independently collects their own exposure data without requiring external infrastructure, empowering individuals to track their personal air quality experience in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is divided into distributed individual wearable units rather than centralized fixed stations. Each wearable device independently collects and processes data locally, then transmits to a central platform, segmenting the monitoring function across many portable nodes instead of relying on few fixed infrastructure points
3Measurement precision
If traditional pollution detection methods are used, then high levels of pollutants can be detected, but they cannot detect low levels of carbon monoxide and other harmful pollutants that cause subtle health effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as composite sensing materials that enhance the detection sensitivity for low levels of carbon monoxide and other pollutants. These composite materials provide high surface area and selective binding properties that enable detection at concentrations much lower than conventional sensors can achieve
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
The wearable system enables accurate and timely detection of carbon monoxide and other pollutants, allowing users to take preventive measures, thereby reducing the risk of health complications and improving the quality of life for individuals exposed to poor air quality.
Implementation Method 1
The wearable device includes a sensor, which is enabled to detect pollutants
Implementation Method 2
CO-oximeters measure the absorption of light passing through the blood in order to distinguish between oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin and carboxyhaemoglobin
Implementation Method 3
the at least one sensor being enabled to detect biochemical and/or physiological vital signs of a user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wearable system and a method for detecting and monitoring an indicator for a disease or a disease induced by an actual air pollution. The wearable system comprises at least one wearable device (1), to be worn on the body by a user. The at least one wearable device (1) comprising a plurality of integrated sensors (6) configured to detect biochemical and/or physiological vital signs of the user as well as environmental parameters indicative of an air pollution in the environment surrounding the user. The air pollutant may be selected from carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter. In embodiments the air pollutant is carbon monoxide. In embodiments, the wearable device may be configured to detect user parameters such as fibrinogen levels in a user.