Wearable Sensor Array Signal Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable physiological monitor systems face challenges in compactness, battery life, and optimal positioning on the patient's body, as they need to balance power consumption and sensor coupling while being tolerant to suboptimal placement without compromising performance or increasing size.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a housing with deformable sidewalls and a processor that selects the best emitter-detector pairing based on signal quality, ensuring efficient power use and effective signal detection even when poorly positioned, by dynamically selecting the most effective sensor elements and de-powering others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the monitor includes an adhesive layer for attaching it to the patient's skin, then the monitor can be worn by the patient for continuous monitoring, but the exact location required for best operation varies from patient to patient and may require removal and reapplication
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the best emitter-detector pairing based on real-time signal quality assessment. The processor evaluates signals from multiple emitters and detectors, identifying the pairing that provides the best signal quality, and configures the system to use that pairing for measurements. This dynamic adaptation allows the monitor to maintain reliable operation regardless of adhesive placement location.
2Reliability
If the emitter and detector draw enough battery power to operate satisfactorily even when poorly positioned, then operational reliability is improved, but battery life is reduced or battery size must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple emitters and detectors but only activates the specific pairing that provides the best signal quality for measurements. During operation, only the selected emitter and detector pair are actively used, while other components remain inactive or in low-power mode. This partial action approach ensures reliable operation with optimal signal quality while minimizing overall power consumption to extend battery life.
3Reliability
If multiple emitters and detectors are included to provide tolerance for suboptimal positioning, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sensor array into multiple discrete emitter and detector elements arranged in specific patterns. By segmenting the sensing function across multiple elements rather than using a single complex sensor, the system can selectively activate only the necessary pairing for each measurement, reducing the effective complexity while maintaining redundancy for robust operation.
4Volume of moving object
If the monitor is made compact to be more wearable and less objectionable to the patient, then ease of wear is improved, but the ability to provide sufficient signal detection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple emitters and detectors into a single integrated sensor unit that functions as one cohesive monitoring device. By merging multiple sensing elements into a compact array within a single housing, the system maintains small form factor while achieving robust signal detection through the collective capability of multiple elements working together or selectively.
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
This approach allows for a compact, long-lasting wearable monitor that maintains performance despite suboptimal positioning, conserving power and ensuring close coupling to the skin, thus extending battery life and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter that emits electromagnetic energy into the tissue of a subject (e.g. a hospital patient) and a detector that detects a return signal associated with the emitted signal
Implementation Method 2
The oximeter also includes a photodetector. A processor causes the emitters to illuminate a tissue site alternately with red and infrared light. Light which returns to the pulse oximeter as a result of the illuminations with red and infrared light is detected by the photodetector.
Data Source
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AI summary
A physiological parameter sensor system includes a housing with a first cell and a plurality of second cells. A first sensor system element (either an emitter or a detector) resides in the first cell. Second sensor system elements reside in at least some of the second cells. If the first sensor system element is an emitter, each second sensor system element is a detector, and vice versa. The housing is conformable to the contours of a patient to ensure that the sensor system elements are closely coupled to the patient's skin. The system identifies the emitter which yields the best quality signal at the detector (or the detector which receives the best quality signal from the emitter). The system then uses only the identified emitter/detector pair. The system is compact, places only modest demands on battery power, and tolerates being positioned at a nonoptimal loactions on the patient's body.