Flexible electrode for detecting changes in temperature, humidity, and sodium ion concentration in sweat

• US 9,603,560 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Akron
• Original Assignee: University of Akron
• Inventors: Monty, Chelsea N, Wujcik, Evan K, Blasdel, Nathaniel Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS
• Application Number:
  US13/751,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20130197319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0064 for taking sweat or sebum samples measuring sweat production A61B5/4266
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/92 Detection of biochemical

Abstract

The present invention includes a flexible sensor suitable for contact with skin comprising: a nanocomposite; and a top layer; where the sensor provides in-situ detection in sweat or other aqueous body fluids at the skin surface of at least one physiological parameter selected from the group consisting of a physiological salt component, temperature, moisture, humidity, or combinations thereof. The present invention further includes a method of fabricating a flexible sensor suitable for contact with skin comprising: electrospinning at least one polyamide-producing monomer to form a non-conductive polyamide substrate; attaching at least one plurality of conductive nanoscale attachments, wherein the nanoscale attachments are selected from nanotubes, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, to form an intermediate layer; and functionalizing the intermediate layer to form a top layer.

Claims

1. A flexible fabric electrode sensor adapted to contact an exterior epithelium surface comprising:

a flexible fabric composite including a flexible non-conductive fabric substrate, a flexible conductive fabric intermediate layer, and a top calixarene layer formed on the intermediate layer; and

a first electrode and a second electrode communicating with a controller to assess electric current across said flexible fabric composite, wherein sodium ions form a supramolecular complex with said top calixarene layer, wherein said supramolecular complex impedes charge carrier mobility and thus affects said electric current across said flexible fabric composite as assessed by said controller to provide in-situ detection of a physiological salt component in sweat or other aqueous body fluids at the exterior epithelium surface.

2. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is a polyamide.

3. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 2, wherein the polyamide is nylon-6.

4. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible non-conductive fabric substrate is a scrim, sock, mat, scaffold, or textile.

5. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is carbon.

6. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is graphene.

7. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer comprises nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes, or combinations thereof.

8. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 7, wherein the nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

9. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is formed by dip-coating.

10. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein the top calixarene layer is calix[4]arene.

11. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes communicate with said controller, said controller interpreting output signals to detect changes in Na+ ion concentration.

12. A flexible fabric electrode sensor adapted to contact an exterior epithelium surface comprising:

a flexible fabric composite including a flexible non-conductive fabric substrate and a flexible conductive fabric intermediate layer and a top flexible layer of polypyrrole (PPY) formed on the intermediate layer,

a first electrode and a second electrode communicating with a controller to assess electric current across said flexible fabric composite, wherein charge carrier mobility increases as the temperature, humidity, or combinations thereof increases at the surface, and thus affects said electric current across said flexible fabric composite as assessed by said controller to provide in-situ detection of surface temperature, humidity, or combinations thereof at the exterior epithelium.

13. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 12, wherein the intermediate layer comprises nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes, or combinations thereof.

14. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 13, wherein the nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

15. The flexible fabric electrode sensor of claim 12, wherein said first and second electrodes communicate with said controller, said controller interpreting output signals to detect changes in temperature and humidity.