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SEM scanner sensing apparatus, system and methodology for early detection of ulcers

  • US 9,220,455 B2
  • Filed: 06/06/2014
  • Issued: 12/29/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sensing sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) from a location external to a patient'"'"'s skin, comprising:

  • an array of bipolar radiofrequency (RF) sensors embedded on a flexible substrate;

    wherein each of said bipolar RF sensors in said array comprises a first electrode embedded on a first side of the flexible substrate, and a second electrode embedded on a second side of the flexible substrate;

    a conformal pressure pad disposed adjacent to said second side of the flexible substrate;

    wherein the conformal pressure pad is configured to support the flexible substrate while allowing the flexible substrate to conform to a non-planar sensing surface of the patient'"'"'s skin; and

    interface electronics electronically coupled to the array of bipolar RF sensors;

    wherein said interface electronics are positioned adjacent to the conformal pressure pad and non-adjacent to the flexible substrate;

    wherein said interface electronics are configured to control emission and reception of RF energy to interrogate into the derma of the patient'"'"'s skin;

    wherein each of the bipolar RF sensors in the array is independently coupled to the interface electronics to independently interrogate into the derma of the patient'"'"'s skin and measure an equivalent sub-epidermal capacitance corresponding to the SEM; and

    wherein the array of bipolar RF sensors are dispersed across the flexible substrate to define a scanning area of the sensing surface of the patient'"'"'s skin without using a scanning motion.

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