Wearable Optical Sensor Arrays for Continuous Blood Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable activity monitoring devices lack the ability to measure blood metrics such as blood pressure continuously and non-invasively, and personal devices like sphygmomanometers are uncomfortable and limited to per-request measurements.
Innovation Solution
A wearable member with multi-dimensionally arranged energy transmitters and receivers that project and receive energy at different wavelengths to calculate biological metrics, including blood pressure, using a processor to separate artery signals and an analyzer to determine nutrient concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blood pressure gauge with an inflatable cuff is used, then blood pressure measurement is achieved, but comfort and continuous measurement capability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical inflatable cuff system with an optical sensing system using light emitters and detectors. The optical system measures blood pressure continuously through photoplethysmography without requiring mechanical inflation, thereby eliminating discomfort while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device automatically performs continuous blood pressure monitoring without requiring user intervention for inflation or measurement initiation. The system self-regulates the measurement process, continuously tracking blood pressure metrics without user involvement.
2Device complexity
If traditional pedometers with basic functions are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but blood metrics measurement capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single wearable device: step counting, distance tracking, calorie calculation, and blood metrics measurement. The same optical sensors used for basic activity tracking are also employed to measure blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines blood pressure measurement functionality with existing activity tracking sensors. The light emitter and detector array serves dual purposes: monitoring basic motion activities and measuring physiological blood metrics simultaneously, merging multiple functions into a unified sensor system.
3Device complexity
If per-request blood pressure measurement is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but continuous monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous blood pressure monitoring by maintaining constant optical contact between the sensors and skin. The light emitters continuously illuminate the tissue and detectors continuously measure reflected light, enabling uninterrupted blood pressure tracking without periodic interruptions for re-measurement.
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 continuous, non-invasive measurement of blood pressure and nutrient levels, providing real-time health monitoring and alerts, suitable for fitness and well-being applications beyond medical purposes.
Implementation Method 1
each of the energy receivers being configured to generate a signal based on a received portion of the energy that is projected by one or more of the energy transmitters and reflected by the tissue of the user
Data Source
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AI summary
A wearable member may include a plurality of energy transmitters that are arranged on a surface of the wearable member, each of the energy transmitters being configured to project energy into tissue of a user. A wearable member may include a plurality of energy receivers each of which is configured to generate a signal based on a received portion of the energy that is projected by one or more of the energy transmitters and reflected by the tissue of the user, wherein at least one of the energy transmitters and the energy receivers are multi-dimensionally arranged on the wearable member such that energy reflected by the tissue of the user at locations that are multi-dimensionally different is incident on the plurality of energy receivers. The processor may be configured to calculate a biological metric based on signals generated by at least part of the plurality of energy receivers.