Body temperature logging patch
Inventors
Gannon, John • Ream, Matt • Casadonte, Salvatore Joseph • Tucholski, Gary R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9782082-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
An actively-powered temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication includes a sealed, flexible battery comprising a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode, and a flexible circuit including a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a target subject, a wireless communication transceiver and an antenna. In one example, the flexible battery and flexible circuit are arranged in a covering, stacked arrangement between first and second substrate layers, and the patch configured to conform to a curved surface of the target subject. In another example, the patch is used in an actively-powered medical system for monitoring a body temperature of a patient, and includes an adhesive configured to be removably applied to skin of the patient. An external computing device is capable of two way communication with the wireless communication transceiver of the patch via an electromagnetic field.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an actively-powered temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication that includes a sealed, flexible battery and a flexible circuit. The sealed, flexible battery is configured to provide continuous electrical power by using a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode, where at least one of the anode and cathode is formed of a cured or dried ink. The battery further includes first and second battery electrode contacts electrically coupled to the anode and cathode.
The patch also includes a flexible circuit having a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a target subject, a wireless communication transceiver, and an antenna. The flexible circuit includes first and second battery contact pads electrically coupled to the battery electrode contacts to electrically power the microprocessor and temperature sensor. The microprocessor and the temperature sensor actively receive continuous electrical power from the flexible battery irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered, and the microprocessor includes a timer that enables continuous obtaining of a plurality of temperature samples from the temperature sensor at a periodic time interval.
The patch is constructed as a flexible electronics inlay arranged in a covering, stacked arrangement between a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer. The second substrate layer comprises an adhesive configured to be removably applied to a surface of the target subject. All of the first substrate layer, electronics inlay, and second substrate layer are sufficiently flexible so the temperature data logger patch conforms to a curved or variable surface and can flex and move together with movement of the target subject without inadvertent removal.
A further refinement includes arranging the battery electrode configuration in a co-planar arrangement, and passively powering the wireless communication transceiver by an electromagnetic field from an external computing device. In this refinement, the microprocessor actively receives electrical power from the flexible battery, the temperature sensor actively receives electrical power from the microprocessor, and the microprocessor and temperature sensor continuously obtain temperature samples at a periodic time interval irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered. The flexible battery and flexible circuit are disposed between first and second substrate layers, where all layers are flexible to support conforming to curved or variable surfaces.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00015. Each independent claim centers on an actively-powered, flexible temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication, continuous power to the microprocessor and temperature sensor at periodic sampling intervals, and conformable removable attachment to a target subject. The independent claims add specific battery structure and transceiver power relationships for the wireless transceiver.
Actively-powered flexible temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication
An actively-powered temperature data logger patch with wireless data communication comprising a first substrate layer; a sealed, flexible battery configured to provide continuous electrical power using a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode where at least one of the anode and cathode is formed of a cured or dried ink, and first and second battery electrode contacts electrically coupled to the anode and cathode; and a flexible circuit comprising a microprocessor, a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of a target subject, a wireless communication transceiver and an antenna, and first and second battery contact pads electrically coupled to the battery electrode contacts to electrically power the microprocessor and temperature sensor.
Continuous power to sensor and microprocessor irrespective of wireless transceiver power with timer-based periodic sampling
The microprocessor and the temperature sensor actively receive continuous electrical power from the flexible battery irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered; and the microprocessor further comprises a timer that actively receives electrical power from the flexible battery and is configured to enable the microprocessor to continuously obtain a plurality of temperature samples from the temperature sensor at a periodic time interval.
Conformable removable adhesive stacked flexible electronics inlay
A second substrate layer comprising an adhesive configured to be removably applied to a surface of the target subject, wherein the flexible battery and flexible circuit together comprise an electronics inlay arranged in a covering, stacked arrangement between the first and second substrate layers; and wherein all of the first substrate layer, electronics inlay, and second substrate layer are sufficiently flexible so the temperature data logger patch is configured to conform to a curved or variable surface of the target subject and is able to flex and move together with movement of the target subject without inadvertent removal.
Co-planar printed electrochemical cell with passive electromagnetic-field powering of transceiver
An actively-powered temperature data logger patch comprising a first substrate layer; a sealed, flexible battery configured to provide continuous electrical power using a printed electrochemical cell with an anode and a cathode provided in a co-planar arrangement; and a flexible circuit comprising a microprocessor, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a target subject, a wireless communication transceiver and an antenna, wherein the microprocessor actively receives electrical power from the flexible battery, the temperature sensor actively receives electrical power from the microprocessor, and the wireless communication transceiver is passively powered by an electromagnetic field from an external computing device.
Continuous periodic sampling regardless of passive transceiver power
The microprocessor and the temperature sensor actively receive continuous electrical power from the flexible battery to enable the microprocessor to continuously obtain a plurality of temperature samples from the temperature sensor at a periodic time interval, irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered.
Fully flexible stacked arrangement with removable adhesive for curved/variable conforming
A second substrate layer comprising an adhesive configured to be removably applied to a surface of the target subject, wherein the flexible battery and flexible circuit are disposed between the first and second substrate layers, and wherein all of the first substrate layer, electronics inlay, and second substrate layer are flexible; and wherein all of the first substrate layer, flexible battery, flexible circuit, and second substrate layer are sufficiently flexible so that the temperature data logger patch conforms to a curved or variable surface of the target subject and flexes and moves together with movement of the target subject without inadvertent removal.
Overall, the independent claims cover a flexible, sealed printed electrochemical battery powering a microprocessor and temperature sensor continuously at periodic intervals, while the wireless communication transceiver can be powered independently or passively by an electromagnetic field. Both claims require a stacked, flexible electronics inlay removably attached to a target subject with flexibility sufficient to conform to curved or variable surfaces without inadvertent removal.
Stated Advantages
Enables continuous electrical power to the microprocessor and temperature sensor irrespective of whether the communication transceiver is powered.
Enables the microprocessor to continuously obtain a plurality of temperature samples at a periodic time interval.
Allows the patch to conform to a curved or variable surface of the target subject.
Allows the patch to flex and move together with movement of the target subject without inadvertent removal.
Supports wireless data communication via a wireless communication transceiver, including passive powering of the transceiver by an electromagnetic field from an external computing device.
Documented Applications
Medical skin-contact temperature logging patch on a target subject using removably applied adhesive for curved or variable surfaces.
Remote two-way reading/data communication using an external computing device providing an electromagnetic field for wireless communication with the patch.
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