Wireless Sensor Wire with Integrated Power Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sensor devices for diagnosing heart disease require physical connection to both a power source and display device, limiting mobility and creating wire management challenges during procedures, which can breach the sterile field and complicate the process.

Innovation Solution

A single-use sensor wire system with an integrated power source and wireless transmission capabilities, allowing the sensor to be inserted into a blood vessel and wirelessly transmit data to a receiver unit, eliminating the need for physical connections and enabling greater mobility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensor devices are physically connected to power source and display device, then power supply and data transmission are ensured, but mobility is limited and wire management becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidoperator mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power source and wireless transmission capabilities from external equipment and integrates them directly into the sensor device itself. This allows the sensor to operate independently without physical connections to external power sources or display devices, thereby eliminating wire management challenges while maintaining reliable power supply and data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (wires and connectors) with a wireless transmission system. The sensor device incorporates wireless communication capabilities to transmit data and power information without physical connections, eliminating the need for wire management while ensuring reliable operation.

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

2Reliability

If electrical connectors are uncovered or cleaned for connection, then proper electrical contact is achieved, but sterile field may be breached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidsterile field contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for external electrical connectors entirely by integrating power source and wireless transmission capabilities directly into the sensor device. This eliminates the requirement to uncover or clean connectors, thereby preventing any potential breach of the sterile field while maintaining reliable power supply and data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical connector system with an integrated wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical electrical connections that would require connector manipulation, thereby maintaining sterile field integrity while ensuring reliable operational functionality.

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

3Reliability

If sensor devices require physical connections to display device, then data transmission is ensured, but procedural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidprocedure steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts wireless transmission capabilities from external display equipment and integrates them directly into the sensor device. This allows the sensor to transmit data wirelessly without requiring physical connections to external display devices, thereby reducing procedural complexity while maintaining reliable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical connection and data transmission system with an integrated wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical connectors and reduces the number of procedural steps required for data transmission, thereby simplifying the overall procedure while ensuring reliable data transfer.

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

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 enhances procedural efficiency by allowing wireless data transmission, reducing the risk of sterile field breaches and simplifying the process, while providing accurate measurements of pressure, blood flow, and temperature without the constraints of physical connections.

Implementation Method 1

the power source is a power harvesting device, such as one that converts the cyclic pressure changes of surrounding blood into power to the electronics unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPower harvesting: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

an electronics unit of the distal end of the sensor wire body that wirelessly transmits information generated by the sensor to a receiver unit outside of the patient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWireless transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3888534A1Wireless pressure wire system with integrated power
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORP
  • EP3888534A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3888534A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3888534A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sensor wire system with an integrated power source and wireless transmission is provided. A sensor wire includes a distal end that is inserted into a blood vessel of a patient's body. A sensor that is mounted at the distal end of the sensor wire and an electronics unit of the distal end of the sensor wire transmit information generated by the sensor to a receiver unit outside of the patient's body wirelessly. The system further includes a power source, which is a power harvesting device. In one example the power source is mounted to the distal end of the sensor wire, that supplies power to the electronics unit.