Wearable Injury Detection System with Sensor Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable impact detection systems are inadequate for quickly and accurately identifying the type and severity of injuries, particularly in combat or high-risk environments, which can lead to delayed or inappropriate medical treatment.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic system comprising an array of sensors integrated into a wearable element that can be placed in close contact with the skin, coupled with a detection module that analyzes signals from the sensors to determine the type and severity of an injury based on impact detection, sensor location, and timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable impact detection systems are used to monitor physiological parameters, then injury detection capability is improved, but response speed and accuracy in identifying injury type and severity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable system divides the body into multiple monitoring zones with sensors positioned at specific locations (chest, abdomen, limbs, head). Each zone has dedicated sensors that independently monitor for impacts, allowing parallel processing of injury detection across different body regions simultaneously, thus improving response speed without sacrificing detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-point impact detection to multi-dimensional monitoring by incorporating sensors at multiple spatial locations and measuring multiple parameters (acceleration, force, pressure, timing) simultaneously. This dimensional expansion enables rapid triangulation of impact sources and classification of injury types, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive detection and fast response.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed at specified locations to improve injury assessment accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable system employs universal sensor modules that can detect multiple types of impacts (blunt force, penetration, blast) using the same hardware configuration. Each sensor unit is designed to monitor various physiological parameters simultaneously, reducing the need for specialized sensors for each injury type and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves high injury assessment accuracy by monitoring changes in multiple physical parameters (acceleration, force, pressure, timing sequences) rather than relying on a single complex sensor type. This parameter-based approach allows standard sensors to provide differentiated injury detection through multi-parameter analysis, avoiding the need for increasingly complex specialized sensors.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are placed in close contact with skin at body regions to detect impacts indicating internal organ damage, then injury detection sensitivity is improved, but comfort and wearability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors are integrated into a flexible wearable element that conforms to the body's contours and can be placed in close contact with the skin at critical body regions. This flexible substrate maintains sensor sensitivity for detecting impacts while distributing pressure evenly across the skin surface, preventing discomfort and improving wearability compared to rigid sensor mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable element is designed with curved surfaces that match the anatomical curvature of body regions, allowing sensors to maintain optimal contact with the skin without creating pressure points. This curved design enables close skin contact for sensitive impact detection while distributing mechanical stress evenly, thereby maintaining wearability during extended use.
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 rapid and accurate assessment of injuries, facilitating timely and appropriate medical treatment, which can reduce mortality and morbidity rates among injured individuals, particularly in combat situations.
Implementation Method 1
The wearable element is typically placed in close contact with the skin of the user at the body region such that impact to the sensors is indicative of damage to the skin of the user which in turn is indictive of damage to internal organs and blood vessels underlying the skin at the specified locations
Implementation Method 2
The detection module receives signals generated by each of the sensors and monitors the signals to detect a change that may occur in the signals in response to impact to the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising: a wearable element designed to be worn on a body region of a subject; an array of sensors arranged at specified locations, attached to the wearable element; and a detection module in communication with each of the sensors in the array and configured to determine a parameter indicative of an injury to the body region, based on the signal. The parameter indicative of an injury to the body region may include at least in part, on at least one of: (i) an impact event associated with said subject calculated from the signal, (ii) a location of each of the at least one of the sensors relative to the body region, and a timing of the generating in the signal generated by the at least one sensor.