Sweat sensing devices with sensor abrasion protection
Inventors
Begtrup, Gavi • Heikenfeld, Jason
Assignees
Publication Number
US-10674946-B2
Publication Date
2020-06-09
Expiration Date
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Abstract
The disclosed invention provides a sweat sensing device configured with self-aligned sweat stimulation means to provide adequate sweat generation for continuous monitoring of sweat. The disclosed device includes one or more analyte-specific sweat sensors that self-align with sweat glands. In one embodiment, the sweat sensing device includes means to protect the self-aligning sensors from abrasion against the skin or device components. In another embodiment, the device includes prolonged sweat stimulation for the self-aligning sensors through diffusion of a sweat stimulating compound into the skin.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a sweat sensing device configured with self-aligned sweat stimulation means to provide adequate sweat generation for continuous monitoring of sweat. The disclosed device includes one or more analyte-specific sweat sensors that self-align with sweat glands, and in one embodiment the sweat sensing device includes means to protect the self-aligning sensors from abrasion against the skin or device components.
The invention addresses limitations in prior art where sweat sensing relied on crude, slow, and inconvenient processes of sweat stimulation, collection, and lab analysis, and where wearable sensors face challenges of unpredictable sampling rate, large sweat volume, difficulty aligning sensors with sweat glands, the need for prolonged stimulation, and sensor abrasion. The disclosed invention provides prolonged sweat stimulation for the self-aligning sensors through diffusion of a sweat stimulating compound into the skin and by novel interplays of chemicals, materials, sensors, electronics, microfluidics, algorithms, computing, software, systems, and other features to bring sweat sensing technology into intimate proximity with sweat as it is generated.
Claims Coverage
The claims include one independent claim (claim 1) with three main inventive features.
Sensor located closer to aligned sweat gland
A sensor configured to measure a characteristic of an analyte in a sweat sample, wherein when the device is placed on a device wearer's skin the sensor is configured to be located at a first distance from an aligned sweat gland and at a second distance from an unaligned sweat gland, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
Abrasion protector that reduces sweat volume and includes channels
An abrasion protector supporting the sensor, configured to reduce a volume of sweat required to fill between the wearer's skin and the sensor, located between the sensor and the device wearer's skin, and including one or more channels fluidically connecting the sensor with the aligned sweat gland, wherein the one or more channels have lengths between the first distance and the second distance.
Wicking material with blocking and flow areas to reduce sweat volume
A wicking material configured to be located between the abrasion protector and the device wearer's skin and configured to reduce the volume of sweat required to fill between the wearer's skin and the sensor, wherein the wicking material includes a plurality of blocking areas configured to resist a flow of sweat and a plurality of flow areas configured to allow a flow of sweat, and wherein one or more of the plurality of flow areas fluidically connect the sensor with the aligned sweat gland.
The independent claim covers a wearable sweat sensing device combining a sensor positioned closer to aligned sweat glands, an abrasion protector positioned between the sensor and skin that reduces sweat volume and includes channels connecting to aligned glands, and a wicking material with blocking and flow areas that further reduce sweat volume and provide fluidic connection between aligned sweat glands and the sensor.
Stated Advantages
Provide adequate sweat generation for continuous monitoring of sweat.
Protect self-aligning sensors from abrasion against the skin or device components.
Provide prolonged sweat stimulation for the self-aligning sensors through diffusion of a sweat stimulating compound into the skin.
Improve sensor proximity to sweat glands and thereby reduce sweat volume to enable faster or more predictable sweat sampling (reducing chronologically assured sweat sampling intervals).
Documented Applications
Athletics.
Neonatology.
Pharmacological monitoring.
Personal digital health.
Infant chloride assays for Cystic Fibrosis and illicit drug monitoring patches (decades-old usages referenced).
Diagnosing illness, assessing health status, exposure to toxins, and assessing performance and other physiological attributes via biomarkers in sweat.
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