Biomedical sensor device

• US 8,543,179 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Chen, Yu-Han, Liao, Lun-De, Chao, Paul C.-P., Lin, Chin-Teng
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/480,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 600/323
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• 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 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles

Abstract

A biomedical sensor device includes a light source, a probe array, and a photo detector. The light source is configured for emitting infrared radiation. The probe array is contacted to a user'"'"'s skin to detect an electric wave signal transmitted through the probe array from the skin. The probe array includes a substrate and a plurality of probes mounted on the substrate, wherein the substrate and the probes are non-opaque so that the infrared radiation may be transmitted through the probe array into the skin. The photo detector is configured to detect an infrared signal by measuring the infrared radiation absorption by the skin.

Claims

1. A biomedical sensor device, comprising:

a light source, configured for emitting infrared radiation;

a probe array, for contacting to a user'"'"'s skin and for detecting an electric wave signal from the skin, and comprising a substrate and a plurality of probes mounted on the substrate, wherein the substrate and the probes are non-opaque whereby the infrared radiation transmits through the probe array into the skin, wherein each of the probes comprises;

a tip portion;

a first stalk portion, comprising a top thereof connected to the tip portion, wherein a cross-sectional area of the top is larger than that of a bottom of the first stalk portion; and

a second stalk portion comprising a bottom thereof connected to the substrate, and wherein the cross-sectional area of a top of the second stalk portion is smaller than that of the bottom of the second stalk portion; and

a photo detector, configured for detecting an infrared signal by measuring the infrared radiation absorption by the skin.

2. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photo detector further comprises a color filter.

3. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infrared signal is used for measuring blood oxygen concentration or blood sugar concentration.

4. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric wave signal is used for measuring EEG (electroencephalography), ECG (electrocardiography) or EMG (electromyography).

5. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate and the probes are transparent.

6. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of silicon, silicon dioxide or zinc oxide.

7. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probes are made of TCO (transparent conductive oxides).

8. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the TCO comprises ITO (tin doped Indium oxide), FTO (fluorine doped tin dioxide), AZO (aluminum doped zinc oxide) or GZO (gallium doped zinc oxide).

9. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip portion and the first stalk portion are made of silicon, silicon dioxide or zinc oxide.

10. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the probes further comprises a conductive layer covering the tip portion and the first stalk portion.

11. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the conductive layer is made of a polymer, a thin film material or a metal.

12. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip portion is configured for puncturing stratum corneum and the stratum germinativum of the skin to allow the probe to penetrate into the stratum germinativum.

13. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the tip portion is about 50-150 μ

m.

14. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the tip portion is about 80-100 μ

m.

15. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an infrared light-emitting diode.

16. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance between the light source and the photo detector is about 2-4 cm.

17. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wavelength range of the infrared is between 700 nm to 100 μ

m.

18. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wavelength range of the infrared is between 700-1400 nm.

19. The biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wavelength range of the infrared is between 700-900 nm.