Operation-Verified Wearable Vapor Sensor for Accurate Readings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable vapor sensors face issues with inaccurate readings due to sensor blockage, tampering, or improper contact with the skin, leading to false negatives, which can be exacerbated by factors like sweat crystals, dirt, or intentional obstruction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a skin contact sensor to verify the device's operation by measuring aspects such as electrical resistance, light properties, air flow, water vapor, or chemical markers, ensuring the sensor is in contact with the skin, and using multiple sensors to enhance accuracy and deter tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wearable vapor sensor is used to measure sweat vapor properties, then the ability to monitor medication compliance and physiological features is improved, but the accuracy of readings deteriorates due to sensor blockage, tampering, or improper skin contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by measuring skin contact characteristics (electrical resistance, capacitance, temperature) before accepting sweat vapor measurements. This preliminary action ensures the sensor is properly positioned on skin and not blocked or tampered with, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling versatile monitoring capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors multiple parameters (electrical resistance, capacitance, temperature, sweat vapor presence) and uses feedback from these measurements to verify sensor operation status. When anomalies are detected indicating blockage or tampering, the system can alert the user or invalidate readings, thus maintaining accuracy despite the versatile monitoring function
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are added to verify device operation and detect tampering, then the accuracy and reliability of measurements are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each sensor serve multiple functions: the electrical resistance sensor detects both skin contact and potential tampering; the capacitance sensor monitors both proximity and environmental conditions; the temperature sensor verifies both skin contact and device operational status. This multi-functionality increases reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple sensing functions (electrical resistance measurement, capacitance measurement, temperature sensing, sweat vapor detection) into a single integrated sensor assembly that contacts the skin at one location. This merging approach verifies operation and detects tampering while minimizing the physical footprint and overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is made more sensitive to detect sweat vapor, then the measurement capability is improved, but the susceptibility to false readings from dirt, sweat crystals, or intentional obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Before accepting sweat vapor measurements, the system performs preliminary checks by measuring electrical resistance, capacitance, and temperature to verify proper skin contact and absence of blockage. This preliminary action allows the sensor to be highly sensitive to sweat vapor while filtering out false readings from dirt or intentional obstruction
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensor readings (electrical resistance, capacitance, temperature, sweat vapor levels) to continuously verify operational status. When feedback indicates blockage or contamination, the system can adjust sensitivity thresholds or invalidate readings, maintaining high detection sensitivity while reducing susceptibility to false readings
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 integration of skin contact sensors increases the accuracy of sweat vapor measurements by confirming proper device contact and detecting tampering attempts, thereby reducing false negatives and enhancing the reliability of readings.
Implementation Method 1
measuring aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user
Implementation Method 2
D2 discloses a device for determining the amount of gas or heat emitted from a skin surface by diffusion
Data Source
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AI summary
A system to measure sweat vapor may include a skin contact sensor, a sweat vapor sensor, and a processor. The skin contact sensor may be configured to measure one or more aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user of the measuring device. The sweat vapor sensor may be configured to measure one or more properties of sweat vapor of the user; and the processor may be communicatively coupled to the skin contact sensor and the sweat vapor sensor. The processor may be configured to confirm operation of the measuring device based on the one or more aspects measured by the skin contact sensor, and the sweat vapor sensor receiving the sweat vapor.