Wearable Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring With Motion-Artifact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac rhythm monitoring devices, such as Holter monitors, are cumbersome, limit patient movement, and often fail to accurately diagnose arrhythmias due to motion artifacts and infrequent episodes, leading to delayed and incomplete diagnoses.
Innovation Solution
A small, wearable physiological monitoring device with flexible wings and a rigid housing, embedded electrodes, and an accelerometer to distinguish between motion artifacts and cardiac signals, along with a concave event trigger to minimize mechanical stress on the circuit board, enhancing signal fidelity and patient compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid housing is used to protect the printed circuit board, then the structural strength is improved, but the device cannot conform to the curved surface of the patient's body
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional segments: a rigid housing containing the printed circuit board and electronics, and flexible wings that conform to the body surface. The rigid housing is attached to the flexible wings, allowing each segment to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the device have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions: the housing is rigid to protect sensitive electronics, while the wings are flexible to conform to the body. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible wings are used to conform to the body surface, then the adaptability is improved, but the printed circuit board may deform under mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the flexible components (wings) from the rigid components (housing with circuit board), allowing the flexible wings to absorb mechanical stress while the rigid housing protects the circuit board from deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid housing acts as a protective barrier that cushions and shields the printed circuit board from mechanical stresses that occur when the flexible wings conform to the body surface, preventing potential deformation before it can occur.
3Ease of operation
If the device is made small and wearable for long-term monitoring, then the patient compliance is improved, but the signal quality may deteriorate due to motion artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
An accelerometer is introduced as an intermediary sensor that detects motion artifacts. The accelerometer data serves as a reference signal that helps distinguish between genuine cardiac arrhythmias and artifacts caused by patient movement, thereby maintaining signal quality while enabling long-term wearable monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses accelerometer data to provide feedback about motion states, which can be used to filter or flag ECG signals that may be contaminated by motion artifacts. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain measurement precision even during patient movement.
4Measurement precision
If a conventional cardiac monitoring device is ordered by a cardiologist, then the measurement precision is improved, but the diagnostic time is delayed due to multiple appointments
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables primary care physicians to independently order and manage cardiac rhythm monitoring without requiring referral to cardiologists. This self-service capability eliminates the need for multiple appointments and referrals, significantly reducing diagnostic time while maintaining monitoring precision through automated data collection and analysis.
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 device provides continuous, accurate cardiac rhythm monitoring for up to three weeks with reduced motion artifacts, improving diagnostic yield and ease of use, while being cost-effective and reusable.
Implementation Method 1
embedded electrodes, and an accelerometer to distinguish between motion artifacts and cardiac signals
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a physiological monitoring device. Some embodiments of the invention allow for long-term monitoring of physiological signals. Further embodiments may also allow for the monitoring of secondary signals such as motion.