SWEAT SENSING DEVICES WITH SENSOR ABRASION PROTECTION

• US 20170172470A1
• Filed: 12/18/2016
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epicore Biosystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eccrine Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Begtrup, Gavi, Heikenfeld, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,674,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14521 using means for promoting sweat production, e.g. heating the skin measuring sweat secretion A61B5/4266
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides a sweat sensing device configured with self-aligned sweat stimulation means to provide adequate sweat generation for continuous monitoring of sweat. The disclosed device includes one or more analyte-specific sweat sensors that self-align with sweat glands. In one embodiment, the sweat sensing device includes means to protect the self-aligning sensors from abrasion against the skin or device components. In another embodiment, the device includes prolonged sweat stimulation for the self-aligning sensors through diffusion of a sweat stimulating compound into the skin.

Claims

1. A sweat sensing device configured to be placed on a device wearer'"'"'s skin and capable of self-alignment with a plurality of eccrine sweat glands, comprising:

at least one analyte-specific sensor; and

an abrasion protection material for the at least one sensor, where the abrasion protection material is in fluid communication with the at least one sensor; and

includes at least one sweat path from the sweat glands to the at least one sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, further including a chemical sweat stimulating compound.

3. The device of claim 1 where the protection material causes sweat flow to be centered on the at least one sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, further including a wicking material between the skin and the at least one sensor.

5. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound stimulates sudomotor axon reflex sweating.

6. The device of claim 2, further including an iontophoresis electrode.

7. The device of claim 2, further including a substance to improve skin absorption of the stimulating compound that is one chosen from the following:

a skin surfactant; and

a penetration enhancer.

8. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is one chosen from the following:

carbachol;

methylcholine;

acetylcholine; and

pilocarpine.

9. The device of claim 2, where the protection material prevents contamination of a sweat sample by the stimulating compound.

10. The device of claim 2, where the protection material includes at least one of the following:

microfluidic channels, barriers, or track-etched membranes.

11. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is configured to facilitate self-alignment of the device with the sweat glands.

12. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is configured in a semicircular pattern around the abrasion protection component.

13. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is arranged on said abrasion protection material.

14. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is arranged within said abrasion protection material.

15. The device of claim 2, where the stimulating compound is configured to facilitate sustained release into the skin to cause controlled and prolonged sweat generation.

16. The device of claim 15, where the stimulating compound is co-formulated with a biocompatible time-release agent.

17. The device of claim 15, where the stimulating compound is configured with a barrier compound to facilitate sustained release into the skin.

18. The device of claim 4, where the wicking material includes blocking areas impermeable or resistant to sweat flow.

19. The device of claim 18, where a sweat stimulating compound is configured in the blocking areas.

20. The device of claim 19, where the stimulating compound is co-formulated with a biocompatible time-release agent.

21. The device of claim 19, where the stimulating compound is configured with a barrier compound to facilitate sustained release into the skin.

22. The device of claim 19, where the stimulating compound is configured to facilitate self-alignment of the device with the sweat glands.

23. The device of claim 19, where the stimulating compound is configured to facilitate sustained release into the skin to cause controlled and prolonged sweat generation.