Transdermal Sensor

• US 20130225956A1
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Taipei University Of Technology
• Original Assignee: National Taipei University Of Technology
• Inventors: Huang, Jung-Tang, Hwa, Kuo-Yuan, Lu, Chih-Cheng
• Application Number:
  US13/625,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1451 for interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0053 Methods for producing microneedles

Abstract

The present invention provides a transdermal sensor for detecting a concentration of a hypodermal target molecule, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of microneedles fixed on said substrate; a signal processing unit, which is electrically connected to said microneedles; and a power supply unit for providing the working power. The transdermal sensor of the present invention detects long-term, real-time concentration of a hypodermal target molecule for a doctor to evaluate a physiological status of an user with minimal invasive piercing and pain.

Claims

1. A transdermal sensor for detecting a concentration of a hypodermal target molecule, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of microneedles fixed on said substrate for an electrochemical detection;

a signal processing unit, which is electrically connected to said microneedles for receiving an electric signal of the electrochemical detection, and processing and transforming it into a sensor signal; and

a power supply unit, which provides working power.

2. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmission unit which is electrically connected to the signal processing unit for receiving and transmitting the sensor signal outward and for receiving an instructing signal.

3. The transdermal sensor of claim 2, wherein the electrochemical detection is based on electrochemical impedance (EIS), cyclic voltammetry, or amperometry.

4. The transdermal sensor of claim 3, wherein the plurality of microneedles comprise at least one microneedle serving as a working electrode, at least one microneedle serving as a reference electrode, and at least one microneedle serving as a counter electrode.

5. The transdermal sensor of claim 4, wherein the at least one microneedle serving as a working electrode is surface-modified.

6. The transdermal sensor of claim 5, wherein the at least one microneedle serving as a working electrode is modified by a molecule selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, an antibody, an aptamer, a single-chain variable fragment (ScFv), a carbohydrate, and a combination thereof.

7. The transdermal sensor of claim 6, wherein the enzyme is glucose oxidase (GOx) and/or hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBHD).

8. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent microneedles, from tip to tip, is 50 to 1000 μ

m.

9. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the length of the microneedles is 50 to 3000 μ

m.

10. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the target molecule is a bio-molecule or a pharmaceutical molecule.

11. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the bio-molecule is glucose, cortisol, or fatty acids.

12. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board or a chip.

13. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the microneedles are made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, carbon nanotubes, and silicon.

14. The transdermal sensor of claim 1, wherein the e microneedles are deposited with metal gold.