Wearable Sensor Fusion for Physiological Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to accurately interpret physiological parameters of patients who are not at rest, particularly during activities such as running or climbing stairs, making it difficult to assess cardiac activity and motor capacity, and there is a need for a system that can detect and acquire data on both motor and physiological parameters simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising inertial motion sensors in footwear, physiological parameter detectors, a remote data collection unit, and an operator interface, which synchronize and process data to provide a comprehensive assessment of motor and physiological parameters, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, and metabolic equivalent of effort, customizable for individual patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wearable sensors are used to monitor physiological parameters during motor activity, then the ability to assess cardiac activity and motor capacity is improved, but the difficulty of interpreting the measured parameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that acts as a mediator between the wearable sensors and the clinical operator. This system automatically processes raw physiological data (heart rate, SpO2, blood pressure) and motor activity data, correlates them temporally, and presents interpreted results that directly indicate cardiac-motor relationships. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for clinical operators to manually interpret complex raw data, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and interpretation difficulty.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are used to detect both physiological and motor parameters, then the comprehensiveness of data collection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate sensor systems (physiological sensors for heart rate/SpO2/blood pressure and motor activity sensors) into an integrated monitoring system. The sensors are synchronized to operate together and share common processing and communication infrastructure. This merging approach maintains comprehensive data collection capabilities while reducing overall system complexity through shared components and unified data handling, directly addressing the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
3Measurement precision
If physiological parameters are measured during standardized tests, then the assessment of cardiac activity is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality by automatically performing tasks that would otherwise require manual setup and operation. The sensors automatically synchronize and begin data collection, the system automatically correlates physiological and motor data temporally, and results are automatically presented without requiring the patient or operator to manually configure test parameters or process data. This automation maintains precise cardiac activity assessment during motor tests while dramatically improving ease of operation.
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
The system effectively monitors cardiac activity and motor capacity, allowing for customizable data analysis and interaction with clinical staff, providing timely risk assessment and corrective actions based on patient-specific data.
Implementation Method 1
At least one inertial motion sensor (1), comprising means to connect it to a respective patient's footwear
Implementation Method 2
a radio transmitter and a power source, with a software module for extracting data about the patient's walking movements and their transmission by radio waves
Implementation Method 3
the parameters to be detected are those of cardiac and respiratory activity, in addition to body temperature
Implementation Method 4
oxygen saturation (SpO2)
Data Source
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AI summary
The system for the acquisition of physiological and motor parameters comprises at least the following elements: - at least one inertial motion sensor (1), comprising an integrated circuit including an antenna to enable the radio communication with other devices; - at least one wearable physiological signal detector (2), comprising an integrated circuit including an antenna to enable the radio communication with other devices, capable of detecting and transmitting at least one heart rate datum of the wearer; - at least one remote data collection unit (3 a, 3b) capable of communicating with the motion sensor (1) and the physiological parameter detector (2), of securely storing and processing the data transmitted to it by the latter; - at least one operator interface (4a, 4b, 4c), connected via radio to the motion sensor (1), to the physiological parameter detector (2) and to the remote data collection unit (3a, 3b); - synchronization means for synchronizing the signals transmitted and received by the different elements; wherein at least one inertial motion sensor (1) comprises connection means for the connection to a respective footwear of a patient.