Wearable fluidic system for measuring sweat composition
Inventors
Model, Jeffrey B. • Ghaffari, Roozbeh • ARANYOSI, Alexander J. • Lee, Stephen P. • Raj, Milan S.
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11406321-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-09
Expiration Date
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A sweat sensing device includes a flexible body having a first, outwardly facing surface and a second, skin facing surface and a sweat channel formed in the body, the sweat channel having a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end. A biochemical assay well formed in the sweat channel and an assay material is disposed in the biochemical assay well, the assay material positioned to react with sweat traveling through the sweat channel and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of the flow of the sweat in the sweat channel.
Core Innovation
A sweat sensing device includes a flexible body having a first, outwardly facing surface and a second, skin facing surface and a sweat channel formed in the body, the sweat channel having a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end. A biochemical assay well is formed in the sweat channel and an assay material is disposed in the biochemical assay well, the assay material positioned to react with sweat traveling through the sweat channel and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of the flow of the sweat in the sweat channel. The invention also contemplates a wearable sweat monitoring system that may include one or more fluidics sensors, a sweat volume collection channel, and colorimetric or electrochemical assays and that relays information to a coach, parent, caregiver, or other provider via smartphone or an interactive console station.
The patent identifies limitations of conventional devices that are expensive, bulky, heavy, aesthetically unattractive, and mechanically rigid, which prevent intimate coupling with skin during physical exercise or intensive activity, exhibit poor signal quality, and physically disturb the user. The disclosed wearable sweat monitoring system and sweat sensing device are described as improved devices intended to overcome the limitations of conventional wearable sensors and to provide medical diagnostics needed to monitor athletes, patients, and newborns outside of the clinic, thereby reducing reliance on centralized care centers and providing better individual and demographic data for understanding treatment measures and outcomes.
Claims Coverage
This section identifies ten main inventive features derived from the two independent claims of the patent (device and system).
Flexible body with defined surfaces
a flexible body having a first, outwardly facing surface and a second, skin facing surface
First sweat channel with biochemical assay well
a first sweat channel formed in the body, the first sweat channel having a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end, and a biochemical assay well formed in the first sweat channel
Assay material providing visual or camera-detectable indicator
an assay material disposed in the biochemical assay well of the first sweat channel, the assay material positioned to react with sweat traveling through the sweat channel and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of the flow of the sweat in the sweat channel
Second sweat channel with chloranilate mixing well and color viewing window
a second sweat channel formed in the body, the second sweat channel including a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end, a color viewing window formed in the second sweat channel, and a biochemical assay well formed in the second sweat channel between the first end and the color viewing window; wherein the biochemical assay well of the second sweat channel defines a chloranilate mixing well, the sweat sensing device further including chloranilate disposed in the biochemical assay well, and wherein the chloranilate is suspended in a suspension of one of p-HEMA and polyethylene glycol, the color viewing window positioned to collect sweat that has passed through and reacted with the chloranilate in the biochemical assay well, and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of a color of the sweat and chloranilate in the color viewing window.
Sweat sensing device detecting listed physiologic and biometric conditions
a sweat sensing device configured to be adhered to the skin of a user to collect sweat and detect one of physiologic and a biometric condition selected from the group consisting of sweat volume, sweat volume loss, sweat rate, sweat chloride loss, sweat sodium loss, sweat lactate loss, sweat electrolyte loss, sweat metabolite loss, sweat pH, sweat glucose, and foreign chemical and toxin concentrations in the sweat
Interactive console station with connected camera
an interactive console station having a connected camera; wherein the camera of the interactive console station captures an image of the sweat sensing device and generates an output to the user via the interactive console station
Smartphone with camera capturing images
a smartphone having a camera, wherein the smartphone camera captures an image of the sweat sensing device and generates an output to the user via one of the interactive console station and the smartphone display screen
Image capture while worn and processor using algorithms
wherein the image of the sweat sensing device is captured a plurality of times while the sweat sensing device is being worn and adhered to the skin of the user; wherein a processor in one of the interactive console station and the smartphone uses one or more algorithms to generate the output
Outputs comprising recommendations and environmental control signals
wherein the output is one of a recommendation of a specific formulation of electrolytes, carbohydrates, and fluids to consume to achieve electrolyte and metabolite balance in the user, a recommendation to consume specific nutrients, a recommendation to alter a temperature, a recommendation to alter a level of exertion, an alert to a caregiver, and alert to emergency personnel, a signal that causes the room temperature to change to mitigate risks of one of dehydration and heat injury, a signal that activates a weighing station to measure one of heart rate and body temperature, and a signal that one of dims the lights and turns on a motorized fan in the user's environment
Five-layer flexible body with first and second sweat channels and chloranilate
wherein the sweat sensing device includes a flexible body formed from five layers of material bonded together and having: a first, outwardly facing surface; a second, skin facing surface; a first sweat channel formed in the body, the first sweat channel having a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end, wherein the first sweat channel is formed in one of one of three inner layers of the five layers and a plurality of any of the three inner layers of the five layers, a biochemical assay well formed in the first sweat channel, and an assay material disposed in the biochemical assay well, the assay material positioned to react with sweat traveling through the sweat channel and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of the flow of the sweat in the sweat channel; and a second sweat channel formed in the body, the second sweat channel having a first end defining a fluid inlet and a second end, a color viewing window formed in the second sweat channel, a biochemical assay well formed in the second sweat channel between the first end and the color viewing window, and chloranilate disposed in the biochemical assay well, wherein the chloranilate is suspended in a suspension of one of p-HEMA and polyethylene glycol, and wherein the color viewing window is positioned to collect sweat that has passed through and reacted with the chloranilate in the biochemical assay well, and to provide one of a visual indicator and an indicator detectable by a camera and connected processor of a color of the sweat and chloranilate in the color viewing window.
Independent claims 1 and 7 cover a wearable sweat sensing device with layered flexible construction, sweat channels with biochemical assay wells (including a chloranilate mixing well suspended in p-HEMA or polyethylene glycol) and visual or camera-detectable indicators, together with a sweat monitoring system that uses camera-equipped interactive consoles and smartphones and processors running algorithms to capture images while worn and generate recommendations and environmental control outputs.
Stated Advantages
Overcomes limitations of conventional wearable sensors that are expensive, bulky, heavy, aesthetically unattractive, and mechanically rigid, which prevent intimate coupling with skin, exhibit poor signal quality, and physically disturb the user.
Provides an improved wearable sweat monitoring system that is described as high quality, low cost, and a component of an accessible health monitoring system that provides medical diagnostics needed to monitor athletes, patients, and newborns outside of the clinic.
Enables relay of sweat condition information in real time to a user, coach, parent, caregiver, or other provider via smartphone or an interactive console station.
Allows recommendations, including specific electrolyte and fluid formulations, and environmental modifications while the user is still engaged in physical activity or has just completed the physical activity.
Supports measurement and quantification of sweat volume and biochemical parameters, such as chloride concentration, in real-time on the user's body.
Documented Applications
Measuring and monitoring sweat rate, sweat composition, and biochemical information for consumers, athletes, military personnel, firefighters, heart failure patients, kidney failure patients, diabetics, cystic fibrosis patients, mental health patients, preterm newborns, and others.
Providing feedback to a user, coach, parent, caregiver, or other provider via smartphone or an interactive console station, including recommendations to consume specific electrolyte formulations, nutrients, to alter temperature or level of exertion, and to alert caregivers or emergency personnel.
Use with interactive console stations such as weighing stations and heart monitoring stations, and with virtual or augmented reality controllers to modify an environment or virtual representation (for example, making an avatar exhibit dehydration characteristics).
Point-of-care wearable sensing to shift routine care and metabolite management from laboratory or hospital settings to remote field environments or the home.
Single-use application in which the device is adhered to the skin to collect sweat, measure conditions, and then is peeled off and discarded after use.
Interested in licensing this patent?