Wearable Doppler Patch for Continuous Blood Flow Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting blood flow, such as physical palpitation and electrocardiographs, are unreliable and lack real-time monitoring capabilities, especially in emergency situations like cardiac arrest, where timely intervention is critical.
Innovation Solution
A stand-alone continuous cardiac Doppler pulse monitoring patch that provides visual and auditory signals by using ultrasonic waves to detect blood flow, featuring a peel-away adhesive surface, integrated power source, transmitters, receivers, and a processor to analyze and display the presence, frequency, and strength of blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If physical palpitation is used to detect pulse, then the method is simple and widely available, but the detection reliability is low and subject to substantial error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical finger palpitation method with an ultrasonic Doppler transducer that uses acoustic waves to detect blood flow. The transducer converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals and back, providing objective, reliable pulse detection without requiring manual finger placement on arteries.
2Measurement precision
If ECG is used to detect pulse, then electrical emissions from the heart can be detected, but the ECG does not measure actual blood flow and may detect favorable electrical emissions even after blood flow has ceased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the electrical measurement approach (ECG) with an acoustic measurement approach (Doppler ultrasonography). The Doppler transducer detects actual mechanical blood flow movements through acoustic waves, providing direct measurement of blood flow rather than indirect electrical signals, thereby ensuring that detected pulses represent genuine circulatory activity.
3Reliability
If a hand-held Doppler monitor is used, then real-time blood flow information can be obtained, but the device cannot be secured in place to provide continuous monitoring and requires another technician to hold it during CPR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into two independent components: a wearable patch module containing the Doppler transducer and adhesive backing that can be secured to the patient's skin, and a separate display/processing unit. This segmentation allows the sensing element to remain continuously attached to the patient while the processing equipment can be positioned conveniently for the rescuer.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable patch is designed to be self-securing through adhesive attachment to the patient's skin, eliminating the need for another technician to manually hold the device in place. The patch maintains continuous contact with the artery independently, providing uninterrupted blood flow monitoring during CPR without requiring additional human operators.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing ECG and Doppler monitors are removed for X-ray or other scans, then the scanning procedures can be performed, but medical personnel are left without direct information about the subject's blood flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the sensing function (wearable patch with transducer) from the processing and display functions. The patch can remain attached to the patient during X-ray or other scanning procedures, maintaining continuous blood flow monitoring, while only the non-essential processing unit needs to be temporarily disconnected or positioned away from the scanning area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch is applied to the patient's skin before the scanning procedure begins, establishing continuous blood flow monitoring in advance. This ensures that blood flow information is already being collected and can continue uninterrupted during the scan, eliminating any gap in monitoring that would occur with traditional removable monitors.
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 quick, reliable, and continuous detection of blood flow, facilitating timely medical interventions like CPR by providing real-time information on blood flow dynamics, even in unstable or moving patients, thereby improving survival chances.
Implementation Method 1
The adhesive surface of the patch includes a conductive medium to enhance transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 2
The Doppler effect of waves reflecting from moving blood or a pulsing artery is used to detect a pulse in the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-alone continuous cardiac Doppler pulse monitoring patch provides visual and auditory signals that a pulse is detected or not detected in a human subject. The invention is a small patch with a peel-away adhesive surface that is applied to the skin of the subject, preferably near a large artery. The adhesive surface of the patch includes a conductive medium to enhance transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves. The patch includes an integral power source, transmitters and receivers to send and detect reflected ultrasonic waves, a transducer to convert the reflected waves into an electrical signal, a processor to analyze the signal, a light to indicate the presence and strength of a pulse, and a speaker also to indicate the presence and strength of a pulse. The Doppler effect of waves reflecting from blood pumped from a heart is used to detect a pulse in the subject. The presence of a pulse is analyzed by the processor to determine the frequency and strength of blood flow. The processor causes the light to blink at a rate to indicate the frequency of rhythmic blood flow. In a further embodiment, the processor analyzes the strength of the blood flow and causes the light to increase or decrease in intensity to reflect the strength or weakness of the flow. The processor may also drive a speaker to emit sounds, such as beeps, that indicate the frequency and strength of blood flow. The absence of blood flow may be indicated by the absence of light or sound, or by separate light or auditory signals.