Wireless Catheter Data Synchronization via Packet Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for synchronizing data from multiple wireless medical probes, such as cardiac catheters, face challenges in aligning data with different time delays, often requiring complex clock synchronization that can disrupt sampling and increase implementation complexity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves broadcasting a synchronization signal to reset packet numbers and sampling cycles in each probe, with acknowledgement packets providing time offsets to align data sequences, allowing for time-synchronization without interfering with internal clock signals, thus simplifying the process and maintaining continuous sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex clock synchronization methods are used to align data from multiple wireless probes, then data synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a synchronization packet as an intermediary mechanism that carries timing information between probes and the external system. This synchronization packet acts as a mediator that enables time alignment without requiring complex internal clock synchronization between probes, thereby reducing implementation complexity while maintaining synchronization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical approach of synchronizing internal clock signals between probes with a software-based timestamp comparison method. By using packet timestamps and calculating time differences through software processing, the system eliminates the need for complex hardware clock synchronization mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If internal clock signals are reset to synchronize data from multiple probes, then data alignment is improved, but continuous sampling is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by attaching timestamps to data packets before transmission, recording the exact time each packet was generated. This preliminary timing information allows for post-processing synchronization without requiring real-time intervention or reset of the sampling process, thus maintaining continuous sampling operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by allowing probes to maintain their internal clock signals and continuous sampling operation throughout the process. The synchronization is achieved by comparing timestamps of transmitted packets rather than by interrupting or resetting the sampling process, thereby maintaining uninterrupted data acquisition
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes disposing multiple medical probes to acquire physiological data concurrently from a living body. The data is sent from the multiple medical probes by transmitting over wireless channels respective sequences of data packets that are marked with respective packet numbers. A synchronization signal that is broadcast to the multiple probes is received in the probes. In response to receiving the synchronization signal, the packet numbers that are to be assigned in the probes to subsequent data packets in the respective sequences are reset.