DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AND/OR MONITORING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE SKIN

• US 20110184257A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Boll, Herbert, Ladstaetter, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US12/993,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body

Abstract

A device for determining and/or monitoring the moisture content of the skin of a person or an animal, in particular for detecting dehydration in an elderly person or a person requiring care, as well as a corresponding method and use of such a device.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A device for determining or monitoring moisture content of skin of a person or animal for detecting dehydration, comprising:

a sensor to measure the moisture content of the skin;

a patch for detachable attachment of the device to a body of the person or animal; and

a signal generator to output at least one of;

i) at least one measuring result, and ii) at least one warning signal;

wherein the sensor contacts the skin when attached thereto.

15. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor detects the moisture content of the skin at least one of:

i) electrically by a resistance measurement, ii) optically via spectroscopy, and iii) chemically by measuring a pH value.

16. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor has two electrodes which contact the skin when attached thereto and are connected to i) at least one of a voltage supply device and a current supply device, and ii) a device for one of voltage, current, and resistance measurement.

17. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor has two electrodes which contact skin when attached thereto and are connected to a combination device for one of voltage supply, current supply and resistance measurement.

18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the voltage supply device and current supply device supplies an alternating current to the electrodes.

19. The device as recited in claim 17, wherein the combination device supplies an alternating current to the electrodes.

20. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor, which are designed and situated in such a way that radiation emitted by the radiation source passes through the skin, and the radiation remaining after passing through the skin is measured by the radiation sensor

22. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the signal generator includes at least one of:

i) a material discolorable due to a change in at least one of pH value, voltage, and temperature, ii) an indicator paper, iii) a display, iv) an LCD, v) an infrared transmitter, vi) a Bluetooth transmitter, and vii) a radio frequency transmitter.

25. The device as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a processor to evaluate the measuring results detected by the sensor.

26. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein electronic components of the device are embodied as film electronics.

27. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the film electronics are flexible film electronics.

14. A device for determining or monitoring moisture content of skin of A person or animal for detecting dehydration, comprising:

a sensor to measure the moisture content of the skin;

a patch for detachable attachment of the device to a body of the person or animal; and

a memory element to store at least one measuring result;

wherein the sensor contacts the skin when attached thereto.

21. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor, which are designed and situated in such a way that radiation emitted by the radiation source is reflected on a layer of the skin, and the reflected radiation is measured by the radiation sensor.

23. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the memory element is adapted to be read out by an external reader device.

24. The device as recited in claim 23, wherein the memory element is an RFID chip.

28. A method for determining and monitoring moisture content of skin of a person or animal, comprising:

attaching a device to the person or animal, the device including a sensor to measure the moisture content of the skin, a patch for detachable attachment of the device to a body of the person or animal and a signal generator to output at least one of;

i) at least one measuring result, and ii) at least one warning signal, wherein the sensor contacts the skin when attached thereto;

measuring by the sensor the moisture content of the skin; and

outputting by the signal generator, the moisture content.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the signal generator outputs a warning signal at least one of:

when there is a critical change in the moisture content, and when a critical threshold value is exceeded.

29. A method for determining and monitoring moisture content of skin of a person or animal, comprising:

attaching a device to the person or animal, the device including a sensor to measure the moisture content of the skin, a patch for detachable attachment of the device to a body of a person or animal and a signal generator to output at least one of;

i) at least one measuring result, and ii) at least one warning signal, wherein the sensor contacts the skin when attached thereto;

measuring by the sensor the moisture content of the skin; and

saving the moisture content in the memory device.

31. A method for determining and monitoring moisture content of skin of a person for detecting dehydration of the person, comprising:

attaching a device to the person or animal, the device including a sensor to measure the moisture content of the skin, a patch for detachable attachment of the device to a body of the person and a signal generator to output at least one of;

i) at least one measuring result, and ii) at least one warning signal, wherein the sensor contacts the skin when attached thereto;

measuring by the sensor the moisture content of the skin; and

outputting by the signal generator, the moisture content for detecting dehydration of the person.