Sweat sensor system and method of characterizing the compositional analysis of sweat fluid

• US 20060253011A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PJ Edmonson Limited
• Original Assignee: PJ Edmonson Limited
• Inventors: Edmonson, Peter J., Stoddard, Douglas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14521 using means for promoting sweat production, e.g. heating the skin measuring sweat secretion A61B5/4266
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion

Abstract

A method of sensing the concentration level of at least one particular electrolyte in the sweat fluid of a subject, includes providing a sweat sensor system having sweat fluid absorbing material, measuring apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of sweat fluid absorbed by the absorbing material and producing ionic concentration data for said at least one particular electrolyte, and a user interface connected to the measurement apparatus for interpreting the data to a user. The absorbing material is applied to the skin of the subject to cause sweat fluid thereon to be absorbed by the absorbing material whereby the measurement apparatus produces ionic concentration data for the sweat fluid absorbed and the user interface interprets the data for a user.

Claims

1. A method of sensing the concentration level of at least one particular electrolyte in the sweat fluid of a subject, the method including:

providing a sweat sensor system having sweat fluid absorbing material, measuring apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of sweat fluid absorbed by the absorbing material and producing ionic concentration data for said at least one particular electrolyte, and a user interface connected to the measurement apparatus for interpreting the data to a user, and

applying the absorbing material to the skin of the subject to cause sweat fluid thereon to be absorbed by the absorbing material whereby the measurement apparatus produces ionic concentration data for the sweat fluid absorbed and the user interface interprets the data for a user.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the measurement apparatus has a pair of spaced electrodes in the sweat fluid absorbing material.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sweat fluid absorbing material comprises a first absorbing material in contact with the sweat fluid and a larger portion of absorbing material in contact with the first absorbing material but not in contact with the sweat fluid.

4. A method according to claim 1 also including determining from previous data of a subject whether the subject has a normal or non-normal ionic concentration level and recommending to the subject any required action to be taken.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the user interface is connected to the measurement apparatus by a wired electrical connection.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the user interface is connected to the measurement apparatus by an RF connection.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the measurement apparatus also measures the greater change of the conductivity of the sweat fluid absorbed by the absorbing material.

8. A sweat sensor system for sensing the concentration level of at least one particular electrolyte in the sweat fluid of a subject, the sensor system including:

sweat fluid absorbing material positionable in contact with sweat fluid on a subject,

measuring apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of sweat fluid absorbed by the absorbing material and producing ionic concentration data for at least one particular electrolyte, and

a user interface connected to the measuring apparatus for interpreting the data to a user.

9. A sweat sensor system according to claim 8 wherein the measuring apparatus includes a pair of spaced electrodes in the absorbing material for sensing the electrical conductivity of sweat fluid therein.

10. A sweat sensor system according to claim 9 wherein the sweat fluid absorbing material comprises a first absorbing material positionable in contact with sweat fluid on a subject, said pair of electrodes being inserted therein, and a larger portion of absorbing material positioned in contact with the first absorbing material and not in contact with the sweat fluid.

11. A sweat sensor system according to claim 8 wherein the user interface contains previous data of the subject and is operable to determine whether the subject has a normal or non-normal ionic concentration level of said at least one particular electrolyte and recommending to the subject any required action to be taken.

12. A sweat sensor system according to claim 8 wherein the user interface is connected to the measuring apparatus by wired electrical connection.

13. A sweat sensor system according to claim 8 wherein the measuring apparatus is connected to the user interface by an RF connection.