SWEAT SENSING WITH ANALYTICAL ASSURANCE

• US 20170245788A1
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Cincinnati
• Original Assignee: University of Cincinnati
• Inventors: Heikenfeld, Jason C.
• Application Number:
  US15/512,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence

Abstract

A sweat sensor device (200) with analytical assurance includes at least one sensor (220) for detecting a first analyte, and at least one calibration medium (270) containing at least the first analyte. When the first analyte in the at least one calibration medium (270) comes into contact with the at least one sensor (220), the calibration medium (270) provides a calibration of the at least one sensor (220). A sweat sensor device (200) may further include a carrier (240) having at least one aperture (220a) and a reservoir (254) for storing the at least one calibration medium (270). The at least one aperture (220a) provides fluidic access to the at least one sensor (220) from the reservoir (254).

Claims

1. A sweat sensor device with analytical assurance comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting a first analyte; and

at least one calibration medium containing at least said first analyte,

wherein when said first analyte in said at least one calibration medium comes into contact with said at least one sensor, said calibration medium provides a calibration of said at least one sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a carrier having at least one aperture; and

a reservoir for storing said at least one calibration medium,

wherein said at least one aperture provides fluidic access to said at least one sensor from said reservoir.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

a rupturable membrane in said reservoir that when ruptured allows said calibration medium to come into contact with said aperture.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sweat pumping element; and

a flow restricting element between said calibration medium and said sweat pumping element.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

more than one calibration medium.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said calibration medium includes a plurality of solutes.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a microfluidic component for transporting said calibration medium to said at least one sensor.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one port providing fluidic access to said microfluidic component.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a material between said at least one sensor and skin when said device is positioned on skin,

wherein said calibration medium is confined against said sensor by said material at least initially when said device is positioned on skin.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said material is at least initially impermeable to said first analyte.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said material is permeable to water and said calibration medium is dry.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said material defines a fixed volume around said at least one sensor.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said at least one sensor includes a first sensor for detecting said first analyte and a second sensor for detecting said first analyte, said material being between said first sensor and skin and not being between said second sensor and skin.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising:

a third sensor for detecting a solute to determine an amount of dilution of said at least one calibration medium when sweat permeates said material,

wherein said material surrounds said third sensor.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said material is a membrane.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein said material is a dissolvable polymer.

17. The device of claim 9 wherein said material is a swellable polymer.

18. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a membrane impermeable to said first analyte, said membrane surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one calibration medium; and

at least one fluidic gate that controls fluidic access to said first sensor.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said membrane is impermeable to sweat.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said at least one fluidic gate includes a water dissolvable polymer.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one calibration medium is dissolvable and, during calibration of said device, said at least one calibration medium has a fixed volume providing for a fixed concentration of said first analyte in said calibration medium.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said at least one calibration medium includes a first calibration medium and a second calibration medium, said second calibration medium including a second analyte different from said first analyte.

23. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one binding medium that reduces a concentration of an analyte in sweat as said sweat reaches said calibration medium.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein said calibration medium provides a concentration calibration of said at least one sensor.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein said calibration medium provides a lag time calibration of said at least one sensor.

26. A method of detecting a solute in sweat comprising:

directing a calibration medium in a device to at least one sensor for detecting said solute in said device;

calibrating said at least one sensor;

positioning said device on skin;

directing sweat to said device; and

measuring said solute in said sweat using said device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein positioning the device on skin occurs before calibrating said at least one sensor.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein directing sweat to said device occurs before calibrating said at least one sensor, the method further comprising:

directing at least a portion of said sweat to said calibration medium to create a calibration solution,

wherein calibrating said at least one sensor includes using said calibration solution.

29. A method of detecting a solute in sweat using a device for detecting said solute in sweat, said device including at least one sensor, the method comprising:

providing fluidic access to said at least one sensor through an aperture in a first backing element;

directing at least one calibration medium to said at least one sensor through said aperture;

calibrating said at least one sensor;

placing said device on skin;

directing sweat to said device; and

measuring said solute in said sweat using said device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein providing fluidic access includes removing a second backing element from said device.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

before placing said device on skin, removing said first backing element from said device.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein directing a calibration medium to said device includes directing more than one calibration medium to said device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein one of said more than one calibration mediums is different from another of said more than one calibration mediums.