System and method of using a tooth antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026603-B2
Application number	US-201916374496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2019
Priority date	Apr 3, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

This disclosure provides a dielectric sensor configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject. The dielectric sensor having at least one split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable. The split-ring resonator having a first resonator loop, a second resonator loop, and a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A dielectric sensor configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject, the dielectric sensor comprising: a split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising:
a first resonator loop;
a second resonator loop; and
a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof.

2. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric interlayer has a thickness between the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop is between 0.5 and 3 micrometers.

3. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop are positioned to form a broadside-coupled split-ring resonator.

4. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the physiological variable is selected from the group consisting of glucose concentration, ethanol concentration, salinity, pH, and temperature.

5. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric sensor is sized to fit within a 3 mm by 3 mm by 1 mm box.

6. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric sensor is configured to integrate with a tooth of the subject.

7. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 further comprising a porous outer layer enveloping the at least one split-ring resonator.

8. The dielectric sensor of claim 7 , wherein the porous outer layer comprises silk fibroin.

9. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change in thickness as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable.

10. The dielectric sensor of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable.

11. A bio-sensing system configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject, the bio-sensing system comprising: a split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising:
a first resonator loop;
a second resonator loop;
a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof; and
a radiofrequency (RF) network analyzer configured to detect the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the split-ring resonator; and
a processing system coupled to the RF network analyzer configured to:
control the RF network analyzer to detect the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the at least one split-ring resonator; and
provide information regarding the at least one physiological variable.

12. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 further comprising at least one additional split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one additional physiological variable.

13. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop are positioned to form a broadside-coupled split-ring resonator.

14. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the physiological variable is selected from the group consisting of glucose concentration, ethanol concentration, salinity, pH, and temperatures.

15. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one split-ring resonator is configured to integrate with a tooth of the subject.

16. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change in thickness as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable, thereby altering at least one of the resonant frequency or resonant amplitude of the generated by the at least one split-ring resonator.

17. The bio-sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable, thereby altering at least one of the resonant frequency or resonant amplitude of the generated by the at least one split-ring resonator.

18. A method of detecting a physiological variable within a subject, the method comprising:
positioning a dielectric sensor within an oral cavity of the subject, wherein the dielectric sensor comprises at least one split-ring resonator configured to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising:
a first resonator loop;
a second resonator loop; and
a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof;

applying a controlled electromagnetic field to the dielectric sensor;
detecting the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the dielectric sensor; and
providing information regarding the at least one physiological variable.

Assignees

• Tufts College

Inventors

• Omenetto Fiorenzo G
• Tseng Peter
• Napier Bradley
• Brenckle Mark
• Garbarini Logan

Classifications

• A61B5/01

  Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) · CPC title

• A61B5/14532

  for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement · CPC title

• A61B5/1468

  using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means · CPC title

• A61B5/682 Primary

  Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth · CPC title

• A61B5/4845

  Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence) · CPC title