Wearable Patch for Heart Valve Function Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for monitoring heart valve function are invasive, expensive, and require trained operators, making it difficult for patients to monitor their condition at home.
Innovation Solution
A wearable patch equipped with discrete piezo-electric transducers and a processor that calculates blood flow through heart valves using echo Doppler calculations, allowing for non-invasive, low-cost, and low-power monitoring of heart valve function at home.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive-implantable sensors or professional echocardiogram equipment are used to monitor heart valve function, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ultrasound transducer systems with piezoelectric sensors that convert mechanical vibrations from heart valve movements directly into electrical signals. This substitution simplifies the device while maintaining monitoring capability, eliminating the need for complex phased arrays and trained operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable patch enables patients to self-monitor their heart valve function at home without requiring professional operators. The device automatically detects and records valve movements through piezoelectric sensors, storing data for later review by healthcare providers, thus making the monitoring service accessible to patients independently.
2Measurement precision
If professional echocardiogram equipment is used to monitor heart valve function, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable patch enables patients to self-monitor their heart valve function at home without requiring professional operators. The device automatically detects and records valve movements through piezoelectric sensors, storing data for later review by healthcare providers, thus making the monitoring service accessible to patients independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ultrasound transducer systems with piezoelectric sensors that convert mechanical vibrations from heart valve movements directly into electrical signals. This substitution simplifies the device while maintaining monitoring capability, eliminating the need for complex phased arrays and trained operator intervention.
3Measurement precision
If invasive-implantable sensors are used to monitor heart valve function, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable piezoelectric sensors and single-use adhesive patches that can be manufactured at low cost using simple processes. These non-reusable components eliminate the need for complex sterilization and calibration procedures required for implantable devices, significantly simplifying manufacturing while providing adequate monitoring precision for outpatient use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ultrasound transducer systems with piezoelectric sensors that convert mechanical vibrations from heart valve movements directly into electrical signals. This substitution simplifies the device while maintaining monitoring capability, eliminating the need for complex phased arrays and trained operator intervention.
4Measurement precision
If current ultrasound systems with phased arrays are used to monitor heart valve function, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ultrasound transducer systems with piezoelectric sensors that convert mechanical vibrations from heart valve movements directly into electrical signals. This substitution simplifies the device while maintaining monitoring capability, eliminating the need for complex phased arrays and trained operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous high-power ultrasound transmission, the wearable patch uses periodic sampling of piezoelectric sensor signals that detect valve movements during each cardiac cycle. This periodic measurement approach significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous ultrasound scanning while maintaining adequate monitoring precision.
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, at-home monitoring of heart valve function, providing accurate data on blood flow velocities and regurgitation volumes, which can help in early detection of changes in heart valve function and improve patient management.
Implementation Method 1
A wearable patch equipped with discrete piezo-electric transducers
Implementation Method 2
The relative velocity of the blood towards the ultrasound transducer or away from it is detected as a frequency shift of the ultrasonic echo reflected from the blood
Implementation Method 3
the frequency shift of the ultrasonic echo reflected from the blood
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are processes for monitoring heart valve function involving determining an effective orifice area of a mitral valve of a patient's heart based on isolated forward-flow and/or regurgitant-flow components and patient-specific calibration data, wherein a patient-specific mitral valve pressure gradient can be determined based on the determined effective orifice area.