Wearable Motion Sensor With Disposable Contact Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring movement disorders like Parkinson's disease are subjective, inconvenient, and lack continuous objective monitoring, posing challenges in disease management and medication management due to the risk of transferring bioburden between subjects and the need for clinician-directed tasks in unfamiliar environments.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with a data logger, motion sensor, and memory component, housed in a casing with a contact barrier to prevent contamination, allowing for continuous recording of motion data, including bradykinesia, dyskinesia, and other symptoms, with features like medication reminders and secure data transmission for objective analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wearable device is used for continuous monitoring of movement disorders, then objective monitoring precision is improved, but the risk of bioburden transfer between subjects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two distinct parts: a reusable data logger and a disposable casing with strap. The disposable portion is dedicated to each subject to prevent bioburden transfer, while the expensive data logger can be reused across multiple subjects after proper cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing and strap are designed as disposable components that are discarded after a single use or single subject. This eliminates the risk of bioburden transfer to subsequent users while keeping the overall system cost-effective by only disposing of the less expensive components rather than the entire device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning is performed on the wearable device to prevent bioburden transfer, then bioburden transfer risk is reduced, but device complexity and potential damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The casing and strap are designed as disposable components that are discarded after a single use or single subject. This eliminates the risk of bioburden transfer to subsequent users while keeping the overall system cost-effective by only disposing of the less expensive components rather than the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into two distinct parts: a reusable data logger and a disposable casing with strap. The disposable portion is dedicated to each subject to prevent bioburden transfer, while the expensive data logger can be reused across multiple subjects after proper cleaning and sterilization procedures.
3Measurement precision
If clinician-directed motor tasks are used for assessment, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to unfamiliar environment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to self-monitor their symptoms in their own environment without requiring clinician presence or direction. The wearable device automatically collects motion data during daily activities, and patients can self-report symptoms through the mobile application, eliminating the need for clinic visits and standardized motor tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of bringing the patient to the clinician's environment for assessment, the system inverts the approach by bringing the assessment capability to the patient's environment through a wearable device that continuously monitors symptoms in the patient's own home setting.
4Ease of operation
If self-reporting of symptoms is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges objective motion data collected by the wearable sensor with subjective symptom reports from the patient through a mobile application. This combination provides both the ease of self-reporting and the reliability of objective measurement, creating a more complete and accurate assessment than either method alone.
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 precise diagnosis and evaluation of movement disorders, reduces the risk of bioburden transfer, and facilitates continuous monitoring of symptoms, improving disease management and medication adherence through objective data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the device when worn by a subject
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device comprising a data logger, a motion sensor, and a memory component is disclosed for recording motion data. The motion sensor may detect movement of the device when worn by a subject, and the memory component may store motion data from the motion sensor. A casing may be included for retaining the data logger and providing a contact barrier between at least part of the data logger and the subject. The contact barrier may substantially prevent contact contamination of at least part of the data logger while the device is worn by the subject for collection and storage of subject-specific motion data. The casing is controllably accessible to release the data logger in a substantially uncontaminated state.