Wireless Fetal Probe Location via Signal Intensity Triangulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in locating wireless fetal monitoring probes in a set area, as they are difficult to find and there is a high risk of data loss due to their wireless nature, making it hard for healthcare professionals to track patients' positions and receive timely monitoring data, especially when patients move outside the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize wireless base stations to send instructions to probes to detect signal intensities, create signal intensity data tables, and calculate distances to reference points, allowing for the accurate location of probes within a set area, with features like data saving and probe identification to prevent data loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless fetal monitoring probes are used to allow pregnant women to move freely, then patient mobility and comfort are improved, but the probes become difficult to locate and data loss risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient mobilityVSAvoidmonitoring data loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously receives signal intensity data from probes and provides real-time feedback about probe locations and data transmission status. The data management center monitors signal intensities from multiple base stations and automatically tracks probe positions, ensuring continuous feedback on probe status and enabling immediate detection of data loss risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Wireless base stations serve as intermediaries between probes and the data management center. The base stations relay signal intensity data and monitoring information, enabling indirect tracking of probe locations and ensuring continuous data transmission even when probes move freely throughout the hospital

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If wireless fetal monitoring probes are used instead of wired probes, then cable management and occupied area are improved, but probe location tracking becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoccupied areaVSAvoidprobe location tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical cable-based positioning with wireless signal-based positioning. Instead of using physical cables to track probe locations, the system uses wireless signal intensity measurements from multiple base stations to calculate probe positions, eliminating the need for cumbersome cables while enabling automated location tracking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a spatial dimension to probe tracking by using signal intensity variations across multiple base stations. By measuring signal strengths from different spatial locations (multiple base stations), the system can triangulate probe positions in two-dimensional space, transforming the tracking problem from invisible wireless signals to measurable spatial data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If multiple fetal monitors are arranged in one ward for one-to-one monitoring, then monitoring quality is improved, but device quantity, occupied area and electricity consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring qualityVSAvoidelectricity consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The data management center serves as a universal platform that can manage multiple probes and base stations simultaneously. Instead of requiring separate dedicated monitors for each patient, the centralized system provides multi-functional capabilities to handle monitoring data from multiple sources, reducing the total number of devices needed in the ward

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple monitoring functions into a single centralized data management center. By combining data collection, processing, and management capabilities into one unified system, the patent reduces the number of separate monitors needed, thereby decreasing occupied space and electricity consumption while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables fast and accurate location of wireless fetal monitoring probes, reducing data loss and improving patient tracking, allowing healthcare professionals to respond promptly to patient needs even when patients move outside the monitoring area.

Implementation Method 1

a data management center sends instructions via a plurality of wireless base stations arranged at different positions in the set area to require the wireless fetal monitoring probes in the action scopes of the wireless base stations to send base station signal intensity data tables of received base station signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3097858B1Method for locating wireless fetus monitoring probe in set area
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 EDAN INSTR
  • EP3097858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3097858B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3097858B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for locating wireless fetal monitoring probes in a set area. The method comprises the following steps: instructions are sent via a plurality of wireless base stations to instruct the wireless probes in the action scopes of the wireless base stations to send base station signal intensity data tables; the wireless probes search all receivable base station signals, establish the base station signal intensity data tables in which signal intensities of the base stations are arranged according to the serial numbers of the base stations, and send the base station signal intensity data tables to a data management center; operations are carried out based on the received current base station signal intensity data tables and base station signal intensity data tables of reference points to obtain a distance reference table; the position of one with the smallest distance value is selected to be regarded as the current position of the corresponding probe. The invention further relates to a device for implementing the method. The method and the device for locating the wireless fetal monitoring probes in the set area have the benefits of quickly locating each wireless probe and avoiding loss of monitoring data.