Wearable Sensor for Stress Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stress level measurement technologies, such as traditional surveys and MRI techniques, are either subjective or costly and limited, while existing GSR sensors face challenges with device location, motion artifacts, and inaccurate measurements due to rigid materials and bulky designs.
Innovation Solution
A wearable sensor system that combines galvanic skin response (GSR) and temperature measurements using a wireless, nanomembrane-based device with mesh-patterned stretchable electrodes and a stretchable wireless circuit, capable of continuous monitoring and providing accurate stress level calculations by calibrating GSR signals with temperature data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gel-covered metal electrodes are used for GSR measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and user comfort deteriorate due to multiple electronic components and bulky packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible thin-film electrodes that can be conformally attached to the skin surface without requiring bulky packaging or multiple rigid electronic components. This flexible film approach maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing device complexity and improving wearability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary bulky plastic packaging and complex electronic components from traditional GSR devices, retaining only the essential measurement functionality through simplified thin-film electrode design that achieves accurate stress level detection without the complexity of conventional systems.
2Strength
If rigid metals and bulky plastic packaging are used, then structural strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to motion artifacts and discomfort during daily activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid metals and bulky plastic packaging with flexible thin-film structures that conform to the skin surface, eliminating motion artifacts caused by rigid components while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for wearable operation during daily activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic, flexible materials that can adapt and move with the user's body during daily activities, rather than static rigid structures. This dynamic flexibility eliminates motion artifacts and improves ease of operation while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Reliability
If tightly worn bands or aggressive tapes are used to secure the device, then reliability of contact is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to skin irritation and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible thin-film electrodes that can be gently attached to the skin without requiring tightly worn bands or aggressive tapes. The thin-film structure maintains reliable skin contact through its inherent flexibility and conformability, eliminating skin irritation and discomfort associated with conventional securing methods.
4Device complexity
If conventional GSR sensors are used without temperature calibration, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate stress level detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GSR measurement functionality with temperature sensing and calibration capabilities in an integrated thin-film device. This merging of functions achieves accurate stress level detection through temperature-compensated GSR measurements without significantly increasing device complexity, as both sensors are implemented in the same flexible substrate.
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 offers a comfortable, unobtrusive, and accurate method for monitoring stress levels, minimizing motion artifacts and providing reliable data through intimate skin contact, enabling continuous stress assessment in daily life without the need for aggressive adhesives or tapes.
Implementation Method 1
electrodermal activity, the variation in skin conductance and also known as galvanic skin response (GSR), has been of great interest due to the quantifiable measure of sympathetic arousal and cognitive states which are triggered along with various stressors. GSR sensors can monitor stress activities by detecting skin conductance changes that results from the variation of the ionic permeability of sweat gland membranes.
Implementation Method 2
receiving temperature measurements by the wearable sensor on the user over the period of time; determining changes in the temperature over a predetermined threshold in the temperature measurements over the period of time; calibrating the GSR measurements based on the determined changes in temperature over the predetermined threshold
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of determining stress levels in a user comprising: receiving galvanic skin response (GSR) measurements by a wearable sensor on the user over a period of time; receiving temperature measurements by the wearable sensor on the user over the period of time; determining changes in the temperature over a predetermined threshold in the temperature measurements over the period of time; calibrating the GSR measurements based on the determined changes in temperature over the predetermined threshold; calculating a stress level of the user based on the calibrated GSR measurements; and generating an output indicative of the calculated stress level.