Wireless Neuromuscular Sensor with Local Data Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical nerve detection methods using wired monitoring devices congest the operating room and consume significant power due to continuous data transmission, which can deplete battery life quickly, and may lead to false negatives if wireless connectivity drops.
Innovation Solution
A wireless sensing device with local processing capabilities that filters and downsamples data, transmitting only relevant neuromuscular response data, and includes a connection diagnostic packet to ensure communication fidelity, reducing power consumption and minimizing wire interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous data transmission is used to ensure reliable nerve detection, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits data periodically at reduced frequency rather than continuously, using event-triggered transmission only when neuromuscular responses are detected. This periodic action maintains detection reliability by ensuring timely transmission of critical events while significantly reducing overall power consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and transmits only the most relevant data portions - specifically when neuromuscular responses are detected - rather than transmitting all continuous data streams. This selective extraction maintains reliability for critical nerve detection events while reducing unnecessary power consumption from continuous high-frequency transmission.
2Reliability
If wired monitoring devices are used to ensure stable data transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but operating room congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. This substitution eliminates physical cables and tubes that would congest the operating room, while maintaining communication reliability through robust wireless protocols and signal transmission capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If high-frequency data transmission is used to capture all neuromuscular responses, then measurement completeness is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic transmission at optimized frequencies that balance measurement completeness with power conservation. By transmitting data at intervals sufficient to capture neuromuscular responses while avoiding redundant high-frequency transmissions, the system extends battery life while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts transmission parameters such as sampling frequency and data transmission intervals based on detected neuromuscular activity levels. When activity is low, transmission frequency is reduced to conserve battery; when responses are detected, transmission frequency increases to ensure complete measurement capture.
4Ease of operation
If wireless data transmission is used to reduce operating room congestion, then ease of operation is improved, but data transmission reliability may deteriorate due to connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating redundancy and error correction mechanisms in the wireless communication protocol. Buffering capabilities and retransmission protocols are built in advance to compensate for potential connectivity issues, ensuring data transmission reliability even in challenging wireless environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiving system monitors data transmission quality and requests retransmission when errors are detected. This feedback loop ensures reliable data delivery over wireless channels by automatically correcting transmission failures without requiring physical wired connections.
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 solution effectively reduces data transmission frequency, conserves battery life, and provides reliable nerve detection by transmitting only necessary data when an induced neuromuscular response is detected, while ensuring accurate communication link fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
Each sensor is operative to monitor a mechanical response of a different muscle group of the limb and generate a mechanomyography (MMG) output signal corresponding to the monitored motion
Implementation Method 2
the processor...transmits one or more of the buffered MMG output signals to a host system
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing device for detecting an artificially induced neuromuscular response within a limb of a subject includes a plurality of mechanical sensors, wireless communication circuitry, and a processor in electrical communication with each of the plurality of mechanical sensors and wireless communication circuitry. Each sensor is operative to monitor a mechanical response of a different muscle group of the limb and generate a mechanomyography (MMG) output signal corresponding to the monitored motion. The processor receives and buffers a portion of each MMG output signal, determines if the MMG output signal from any one or more of the plurality of mechanical sensors is representative of an artificially induced neuromuscular response, and transmits one or more of the buffered MMG output signals to a host system only if the output signal from one or more of the sensors is determined to be representative of an artificially induced neuromuscular response.