CONFORMAL SENSOR SYSTEMS FOR SENSING AND ANALYSIS

• US 20160232807A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medidata Solutions Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: MC10, Inc.
• Inventors: Rafferty, Conor, Raj, Milan, Ceruolo, Melissa, Keen, Bryan, Morey, Briana, Reilly, Brian, Wei, Ping-Hung, Ghaffari, Roozbeh, Kacyvenski, Isaiah, Hsu, Yung-Yu
• Granted Patent: US 10,467,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for sensing and analysis using conformal sensors. Aspects of this disclosure are directed to conformal sensor systems and devices for sensing and analysis of data indicative of body motion, e.g., for such applications as training and/or clinical purposes. According to the representative systems, methods, and devices disclosed in the specification, flexible electronics technology can be implemented as conformal sensors for sensing or measuring motion (including body motion and/or muscle activity), heart rate, electrical activity, and/or body temperature for such applications as medical diagnosis, medical treatment, physical activity, physical therapy and/or clinical purposes. The conformal sensors can be used for detecting and quantifying impact, and can be used for central nervous system disease monitoring.

Claims

1. A conformal sensor device for analyzing a user, the conformal sensor device comprising:

at least one flexible substrate operable to attach to a portion of the user;

at least one power supply embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and operable to power the conformal sensor device;

at least one memory device embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and storing microprocessor executable instructions;

at least one microprocessor embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate, the at least one microprocessor being communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device and operable to execute the microprocessor executable instructions;

at least one sensor device embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and operable to obtain at least one measurement of the user; and

at least one wireless communication component embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and operable to transmit data indicative of the at least one measurement obtained by the at least one sensor.

2. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flexible interconnects embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and electrically connecting the at least one power supply, the at least one memory device, the at least one microprocessor, the at least one sensor device, and the at least one wireless communication component.

3. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the least one sensor device includes an accelerometer or a gyroscope, or both.

4. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the least one sensor device includes a hydration sensor, a temperature sensor, an electromyography (EMG) component, an electroencephalogram (EEG) component, or an electrocardiogram (EKG) component, or any combination thereof.

5. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication component includes a flexible antenna embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate.

6. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication component includes a Bluetooth®

low energy (BLTE) communications link.

7. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one conformal electrode embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and coupled with at least one electrode connector configured to contact the portion of the user.

8. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a power regulator embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate.

9. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage controller embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate.

10. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, having a thickness of about 1 mm or less, a width of about 2 cm or less, and a height of about 10 cm or less.

11. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor device is operable to continuously monitor and provide continuous feedback on muscle activity, body part motion, or electrophysiological measurements, or any combination thereof.

12. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

13. The conformal sensor device of claim 12, further comprising a power transfer coil embedded on or within the at least one flexible substrate and operable to facilitate charging the rechargeable battery.

14. The conformal sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible substrate is a stretchable polymeric patch surrounding the at least one power supply, the at least one memory device, the at least one microprocessor, and the at least one wireless communication component.

15. A conformal sensor assembly for analyzing an individual, the conformal sensor assembly comprising:

a flexible substrate operable to attach to a portion of the individual;

a power supply attached or coupled to the flexible substrate;

a microprocessor attached or coupled to the flexible substrate and operable to execute microprocessor executable instructions; and

a sensor device attached or coupled to the flexible substrate and operable to obtain at least one measurement of the user.

16. A conformal sensor system for monitoring a user, the conformal sensor system comprising:

at least one memory device storing microprocessor executable instructions;

at least one microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one memory device and operable to execute the microprocessor executable instructions;

at least one sensor device electrically coupled to the at least one microprocessor and operable to obtain at least one measurement of the user;

at least one wireless communication component electrically coupled to the at least one microprocessor and operable to transmit data indicative of the at least one measurement obtained by the at least one sensor; and

at least one power supply electrically coupled to and operable to power the at least one memory device, the at least one microprocessor, the at least one sensor device and the at least one wireless communication component.

17. The conformal sensor system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of flexible interconnects electrically coupling the at least one power supply, the at least one memory device, the at least one microprocessor, the at least one sensor device, and the at least one wireless communication component.

18. The conformal sensor system of claim 16, wherein the least one sensor device includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a hydration sensor, a temperature sensor, an electromyography (EMG) component, an electroencephalogram (EEG) component, or an electrocardiogram (EKG) component, or any combination thereof.

19. The conformal sensor system of claim 16, further comprising at least one conformal electrode coupled with at least one electrode connector configured to contact the portion of the user.

20. The conformal sensor system of claim 16, further comprising at least one flexible substrate on or in which are embedded the at least one power supply, the at least one memory device, the at least one microprocessor, and the at least one wireless communication component.

21. The conformal sensor system of claim 20, wherein the at least one flexible substrate is configured to attach directly to a portion of skin of the user.

22. The conformal sensor system of claim 21, wherein the at least one flexible substrate is attached directly to the portion of skin via an adhesive.

23. A conformal sensor patch for analyzing an individual, the conformal sensor patch being formed from a flexible substrate operable to be attached directly to a portion of skin of a human, a power supply is attached or coupled to the flexible substrate, a microprocessor is attached or coupled to the flexible substrate and operable to execute microprocessor executable instructions, and a sensor device is attached or coupled to the flexible substrate and operable to obtain at least one measurement.