Multi-sensor Wearable Patch for Cardiopulmonary Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable devices for cardiopulmonary monitoring often lack comprehensive and continuous data collection, relying on limited sensors that fail to provide a complete picture of a patient's health status, especially for cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, leading to delayed detection of acute events and inadequate proactive monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor smart patch equipped with acoustic sensors, electrodes for electrical activity, and environmental sensors, allowing for the collection of cardiovascular, respiratory, and other health metrics, providing real-time data through a reusable electronics module coupled with a disposable flexible patch for extended monitoring periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into the wearable patch, then measurement precision and comprehensiveness of health data is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (acoustic sensors for heart and lung sounds, ECG electrodes for electrical activity, PPG sensors for blood oxygenation, temperature sensors, and motion sensors) into a single integrated wearable patch device. This merging approach enables comprehensive multi-parameter health monitoring while maintaining a compact form factor that can be worn on the patient's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable patch is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs cardiovascular monitoring (ECG, heart sounds), pulmonary monitoring (lung sounds, respiratory rate), oxygen saturation measurement (PPG), temperature monitoring, and motion detection. This universal design allows one device to replace multiple separate monitoring tools.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then early detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of physiological parameters rather than truly continuous monitoring. The sensors collect data at optimized intervals, with the processing unit analyzing signals periodically to detect acute events. This approach maintains early detection capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to uninterrupted continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the processing unit continuously analyzes sensor data and adjusts monitoring intensity based on detected patterns. During stable conditions, monitoring operates at lower power modes with reduced sampling rates. When anomalies or acute events are detected, the system increases monitoring intensity and alert frequency, optimizing energy usage based on real-time patient status.
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, comprehensive monitoring of vital signs and health metrics, facilitating early detection of cardiac and pulmonary issues, reducing hospitalizations, and improving patient management through real-time data acquisition and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The smart patch can make use of at least one acoustic sensor to collect acoustic data from a location on the user's body
Implementation Method 2
the smart patch can include electrodes for detecting electrical activity from the body of the user
Implementation Method 3
a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor can be used to acquire additional cardiac data (e.g., blood oxygenation data and heart rate data)
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-sensor smart patch is disclosed that can be worn by a user to monitor multiple physiological systems of the user. The multi-sensor smart patch can make use of two or more acoustic sensors, such as accelerometer contact microphones (ACMs), to collect acoustic data from multiple locations on the user's body. The multi-sensor smart patch can include electrodes for detecting the heart's electrical activity and/or assessing the user's bioimpedance. The multi-sensor smart patch can provide useful data associated with the user's cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and electrical characteristics. The multi-sensor smart patch can be in the form of a reusable electronics module couplable to a disposable patch adhesive.