Wearable Ring With Deformable Protrusions for Contact Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face challenges in accurately measuring contact pressure against user tissue, leading to variations in physiological data quality and user satisfaction due to pressure variations caused by factors like tightness, swelling, and aging, and existing optical techniques fail to quantify the pressure effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of elastically-deformable protrusions with pressure sensors within wearable devices, formed via vacuum or pressure molding, to measure contact pressure by detecting changes in air pressure within the protrusions as they deform against the user's tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical techniques are used to detect contact pressure, then the wearable device can determine whether it is in contact with tissue, but the technique cannot provide a quantified pressure measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (air or gas) within the protrusion that transmits the mechanical pressure from tissue contact to the pressure sensor. The protrusion acts as a mediator that converts tissue pressure into measurable pressure changes of the enclosed gas, enabling accurate pressure quantification that optical techniques cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces optical detection methods with a mechanical pressure sensing system. Instead of using optical techniques that can only detect contact presence, the invention employs a pressure sensor within a deformable protrusion to directly measure mechanical pressure, providing precise quantitative data.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are incorporated into rigid structures, then measurement capability is provided, but the device cannot adapt to tissue deformation and swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid structure into a dynamic, elastically deformable protrusion that can adapt its shape and volume in response to tissue changes. The protrusion's elastic deformation allows it to accommodate swelling, movement, and shape changes of the tissue while maintaining continuous pressure contact and measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an elastically deformable protrusion that functions as a flexible structure, allowing the sensing element to conform to tissue surface changes. This flexible design enables the device to maintain accurate pressure measurements despite tissue deformation, swelling, or movement.
3Reliability
If the wearable device maintains constant pressure on tissue, then measurement quality is improved, but the device cannot accommodate user movement and tissue swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic, elastically deformable protrusion that automatically adjusts its shape and internal pressure in response to tissue movement and swelling. This dynamic adaptation maintains reliable pressure contact and data quality while accommodating natural tissue changes and user movement without requiring constant device adjustment.
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 accurate determination of contact pressure, ensuring reliable data collection, adjusting operational parameters, and enhancing user satisfaction by maintaining optimal sensor activation and battery life.
Implementation Method 1
one or more elastically-deformable protrusions disposed within the plurality of apertures and extending from the inner curved surface of the inner ring-shaped housing
Implementation Method 2
one or more pressure sensors disposed within the one or more elastically-deformable protrusions, wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to acquire pressure data associated with a deformation of the one or more elastically-deformable protrusions
Implementation Method 3
formed via vacuum or pressure molding
Implementation Method 4
formed via vacuum or pressure molding
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for manufacturing and operating a wearable device are described. A wearable ring device may include one or more elastically-deformable protrusions extending from an inner curved surface (e.g., inner circumferential surface) of the housing, where the one or more elastically-deformable protrusions are formed via a vacuum molding process (and/or pressure molding process) that is configured to force a moldable material through one or more apertures of the housing. The wearable ring device may further include one or more pressure sensors disposed within the one or more elastically-deformable protrusions, where the one or more pressure sensors are configured to acquire pressure data associated with a deformation of the one or more elastically-deformable protrusions. The pressure data may be associated with a relative pressure or contact between the wearable ring device and a tissue of the user.