Polymer nano-composites as dry sensor material for biosignal sensing

• US 8,608,984 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Medical Polymers, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Medical Polymers, Inc.
• Inventors: Taranekar, Prasad, Venkatesan, Arunkumar, Negandhi, Nishant, Banerjie, Asis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kopec, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JAISON P
• Application Number:
  US13/033,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 252500-5216
• US Class Current: 252/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/268 containing conductive polymers, e.g. PEDOT:PSS polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon

Abstract

A multifunctional polymer nano-composite sensor system for detecting various biosignals like ECG and other kinds of signals for sensing strain, temperature and moisture has been disclosed. This sensor system includes (1) a polymer nano-composite sensor material that is flexible, elastic, soft, and conductive, (2) a sensor material fabricated into a desired shape or form, and (3) a signal capturing interface for collecting, transmitting and processing the signals. This sensor system can easily be integrated into a user environment for various user-transparent sensing applications. The present invention more specifically reveals a multi-functional nano-composite sensor for detecting biologically generated electrical signals which is comprised of a polymeric composition having an electrically conductive wire embedded therein, wherein the polymeric composition has a dispersion phase and a dispersed phase, wherein the dispersion phase is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoset polymer, wherein the dispersed phase includes an electrically conductive filler, wherein the polymeric composition is gel-free, and wherein the electrically conductive wire is adapted for conveying an electrical signal to a signal processing device. The present invention further discloses a polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition.

Claims

1. A polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane polymer is a polyether based polyurethane elastomer.

2. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 1 wherein the styrenic polymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene ethylene butadiene styrene block copolymers, styrene isoprene butadiene styrene block copolymers, styrene butadiene styrene block copolymers, styrene isoprene styrene block copolymers, and styrene ethylene propylene styrene block copolymers.

3. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 1 wherein the styrenic polymer is a styrene isoprene butadiene styrene block copolymer.

4. A polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition, wherein the electrically conductive filler is a mixture which is comprised of 0.5 weight percent to 10 weight percent carbon nanotubes and 1 weight percent to 20 weight percent carbon black, based on the total weight of the composition.

5. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 4 wherein the conductive carbon black has an average particle size which is within the range of 40 to 60 microns.

6. A polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition, wherein the electrically conductive filler is a mixture which is comprised of 0.5 weight percent to 10 weight percent multiwall carbon nanotubes and 1 weight percent to 20 weight percent carbon black, based on the total weight of the composition.

7. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 6 wherein the conductive carbon black has an average particle size which is within the range of 40 to 60 microns.

8. A polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is Present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition, wherein the electrically conductive filler is a mixture of carbon nanotubes and at least one conductive additive selected from the group consisting of carbon black powder, carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, graphites, graphenes, graphite fibers, metal nanoparticles, metal coated carbon fibers, and metal or nano-particle coated organic and inorganic fillers.

9. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the metal nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, tungsten, and copper nano particles.

10. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

11. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the carbon nanotubes are singled-walled carbon nanotubes.

12. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter which is within the range of 5 nanometers to 20 nanometers and have a length which is within the range of 1 micron to 5 microns.

13. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 12 wherein the carbon nanotubes have an aspect ratio which is within the range of 80 to 180.

14. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 12 wherein the carbon nanotubes have an aspect ratio which is within the range of 90 to 150.

15. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter which is within the range of 7 nanometers to 15 nanometers and have a length which is within the range of 1 micron to 3 microns.

16. The polymeric composition as specified in claim 8 wherein the electrically conductive filler mixture is present in the polymeric composition at a level which is within the range of 0.1 to 35 percent.