Electronics for detection of a condition of tissue
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus disposed on tissue for monitoring a condition of the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a first plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the first plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the first plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue;
a second plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the second plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the second plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures being disposed substantially parallel to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures in an alternating and interdigitated configuration;
a first brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures, the first brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures;
a second brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, the second brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure aid in maintaining a substantially uniform separation between each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and each of the immediately adjacent conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures; and
a non-conducting spacer structure having a first end and a second end, the first end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the first brace structure and the second end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the second brace structure such that the non-conducting spacer structure aids in (i) maintaining a substantially uniform separation between the first brace structure and the second brace structure and (ii) maintaining a substantially uniform form factor of the apparatus during deformation of the apparatus,wherein a capacitive based measurement performed by applying a potential across one of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and a directly adjacent one of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.
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Abstract
Apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a tissue based on a measurement of an electrical property of the tissue. In an example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least two conductive structures, each having a non-linear configuration, where the at least two conductive structures are disposed substantially parallel to each other. In another example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least one inductor structure.
169 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus disposed on tissue for monitoring a condition of the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a first plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the first plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the first plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue; a second plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the second plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the second plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures being disposed substantially parallel to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures in an alternating and interdigitated configuration; a first brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures, the first brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures; a second brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, the second brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure aid in maintaining a substantially uniform separation between each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and each of the immediately adjacent conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures; and a non-conducting spacer structure having a first end and a second end, the first end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the first brace structure and the second end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the second brace structure such that the non-conducting spacer structure aids in (i) maintaining a substantially uniform separation between the first brace structure and the second brace structure and (ii) maintaining a substantially uniform form factor of the apparatus during deformation of the apparatus, wherein a capacitive based measurement performed by applying a potential across one of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and a directly adjacent one of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures provides an indication of the condition of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 44, 45, 46)
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21. An apparatus for monitoring a condition of a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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at least two conductive structures configured to be disposed above the tissue and running substantially parallel to each other along substantially an entire length of the at least two conductive structures, wherein each of the at least two conductive structures has a non-linear configuration, and where the at least two conductive structures are arranged in a curved configuration that facilitates flexibility of the apparatus to flexing, stretching or torsion of the tissue to thereby maintain the apparatus in contact with the tissue, wherein each of the at least two conductive structures maintains a separation of neighboring conductive structures of the at least two conductive structures to a substantially uniform value of distance; at least two contact structures, each being in electrical communication with at least one of the at least two parallel conductive structures; at least two non-conductive spacer structures, each of the at least two non-conductive spacer structures non-conductively coupling at least one of the at least two conductive structures to one of the at least two contact structures; and wherein a capacitive-based measurement performed by applying a potential across one of the at least two conductive structures and a directly adjacent one of the at least two conductive structures provides a measure of the condition of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48)
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Specification