Textile-based printable electrodes for electrochemical sensing

• US 9,844,339 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Wang, Joseph, Windmiller, Joshua Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, J. Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/846,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20160095547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• 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 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/001 : Enzyme electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/308 : at least partially made of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 : Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0057 : for warfare agents or explosives properties of explosives G01N33/227
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/22 : Fuels, explosives liquid hydrocarbons G01N33/28
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 : Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1216 : by screen printing or stencil printing

Abstract

Techniques and systems are disclosed for implementing textile-based screen-printed amperometric or potentiometric sensors. The chemical sensor can include carbon based electrodes to detect at least one of NADH, hydrogen peroxide, potassium ferrocyanide, TNT or DNT, in liquid or vapor phase. In one application, underwater presence of chemicals such as heavy metals and explosives is detected using the textile-based sensors.

Claims

1. An item of textile or clothing, comprising a chemical sensor incorporated into textile or clothing, the chemical sensor comprising at least one of an amperometric sensor or a potentiometric sensor;

the chemical sensor being positioned on a portion of the item of textile or clothing that comes in direct body contact;

at least one carbon based electrode to detect at least one of physiologically-relevant analyte and nitro- or nitrate-based explosive, in liquid or vapor phase; and

flexible electronic equipment, integrated on a surface of the textile or clothing, to communicate results of sensing by the chemical sensor.

2. The chemical sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon based electrode is for detecting at least one of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NADH, hydrogen peroxide, potassium ferrocyanide, trinitrotoluene, TNT, and dinitrotoluene, DNT, in liquid or vapor phase.

3. An item of textile or clothing comprising a chemical sensor incorporated into textile or clothing, the chemical sensor comprising at least one of an amperometric sensor and a potentiometric sensor;

the sensor further comprising a chemically selective layer;

wherein the chemically selective layer comprises a permselective coating or a catalytic layer; and

wherein the chemical sensor is positioned on a portion of the item of textile or clothing that comes in direct body contact; and

wherein the item of textile or clothing comprises flexible electronic equipment, integrated on a surface of the textile or clothing, to communicate results of sensing by the chemical sensor.

4. The chemical sensor of claim 3, wherein, when the chemically selective layer comprises the catalytic layer, the catalytic layer comprises a biocatalyst.

5. The chemical sensor of claim 4, wherein the biocatalyst comprises an enzyme.

6. The chemical sensor of claim 5, wherein the enzyme comprises dehydrogenase- and oxidase-based enzymes for at least one of urea, glucose, ethanol and lactate sensing.

7. The chemical sensor of claim 3, wherein, when the chemically selective layer comprises the catalytic layer, the catalytic layer comprises a metallic catalyst selected from the group nickel, bismuth, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium, and ruthenium for hydrogen peroxide and NADH sensing.

8. A textile-integrated chemical sensor system, comprising:

a wearable textile material;

a chemical sensor incorporated onto the textile material; and

flexible electronic equipment, integrated on a surface of the wearable textile material, for displaying and communicating results of sensing by the chemical sensor;

wherein at least one of the chemical sensors, support electronics, a display, power and communication functions are implemented in a custom integrated circuit chip.

9. A method of performing at least one of the following operations using a textile-integrated chemical sensor system, the operations including sweat monitoring for alcohol levels, monitoring of performance/stress/exertion levels, monitoring of incontinence products, wearable heart-rate, or blood-pressure, or monitoring of toxic gases or chemical agents,

wherein the textile-integrated chemical sensor system comprises:

a wearable textile material;

a chemical sensor incorporated onto the textile material; and

flexible electronic equipment, integrated on a surface of the wearable textile material, for displaying and communicating results of sensing by the chemical sensor;

wherein at least one of the chemical sensors, support electronics, a display, power and communication functions are implemented in a custom integrated circuit chip.