Flexible Electrode for Detecting Changes in Temperature, Humidity, and Sodium Ion Concentration in Sweat

• US 20130197319A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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 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.

2. The flexible sensor of claim 1 where the nanocomposite further comprises a substrate and an intermediate layer.

3. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the substrate is non-conductive.

4. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the substrate is a polyamide.

5. The flexible sensor of claim 4, where the polyamide is nylon-6.

6. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the substrate is a fabric, scrim, sock, mat, scaffold, or textile.

7. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the substrate is formed by electrospinning.

8. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer is conductive.

9. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer is ceramic.

10. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer is carbon.

11. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer is graphene.

12. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer comprises nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes, or combinations thereof.

13. The flexible sensor of claim 11, where the nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

14. The flexible sensor of claim 2, where the intermediate layer is formed by dip-coating.

15. The flexible sensor of claim 1, where the top layer is functionalized to detect a physiological salt component selected from the group consisting of:

sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, hydrogen phosphate, hydrogen carbonate, and combinations thereof.

16. The flexible sensor of claim 1, where the top layer is functionalized to detect the physiological salt component sodium to determine Na⁺ ion concentration.

17. The flexible sensor of claim 16, where the top layer is calixarene.

18. The flexible sensor of claim 17, where the top layer is calix[4]arene.

19. The flexible sensor of claim 1, where the top layer is functionalized to detect temperature, moisture, humidity, or combinations thereof.

20. The flexible sensor of claim 19, where the top layer is polypyrrole (PPy).

21. 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.

22. The method of claim 21, where the flexible sensor is a diagnostic tool to make real-time, accurate diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and where the top layer is calix[4]arene.

23. The method of claim 22, where the flexible sensor is a socket liner to provide 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 and where the top layer is polypyrrole (PPy).

24. A device for measuring at least one physiological parameter selected from the group consisting of a physiological salt component, temperature, moisture, humidity, or combinations thereof at the surface of skin, the device comprising:

a fabric sensor, a controller, and an interface, wherein the fabric sensor comprises a nanocomposite and a top layer.

25. The device of claim 24, where the top layer is calix[4]arene.

26. The device of claim 25, where the device is used as a tool to diagnose cystic fibrosis.

27. The device of claim 24, where the top layer is polypyrrole (PPy).

28. The device of claim 24, where the fabric sensor is a sock to fit over a stump.