Component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12376793-B2
Application number	US-201917266947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 6, 2018
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A component for use in a transducer arrangement includes a flexible membrane that defines a contact surface. An enclosed volume is also defined at least partially by the flexible membrane, and a is liquid contained within the enclosed volume.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A component for use in a transducer arrangement, the component comprising:
a flexible membrane defining a contact surface, wherein the flexible membrane further at least partially defines an enclosed volume;
a liquid contained within the enclosed volume; and
a surface configured to receive a transducer,
wherein the contact surface and the surface configured to receive a transducer are substantially parallel; and
wherein the surface configured to receive a transducer defines an external recess configured to receive the transducer.

2. A component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises an elastomer.

3. The component of claim 1 , wherein the enclosed volume is defined fully by an elastomer.

4. The component of claim 2 wherein the elastomer comprises one or more of silicone, acrylic, nitrile and polyurethane.

5. The component of claim 1 , wherein at least a part of a boundary enclosing the enclosed volume has a material thickness of between approximately 0.05 mm to approximately 5 mm.

6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is substantially planar.

7. The component of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is generally circular or elliptical in shape.

8. The component of claim 1 , wherein a maximum internal spacing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contact surface between the contact surface and the surface configured to receive a transducer defines a first depth of the liquid; wherein the first depth of the liquid is between approximately 5 mm to approximately 70 mm.

9. The component of claim 1 , wherein the internal spacing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contact surface between the contact surface and the surface configured to receive a transducer in the region of the recess defines a second depth of the liquid; wherein the second depth of the liquid is between approximately 1 mm to approximately 10 mm less than the first depth.

10. The component of claim 1 , wherein the component further comprises one or more additional surfaces extending between the contact surface and the surface configured to receive a transducer, such that the enclosed volume is defined fully therebetween.

11. The component of claim 10 , wherein the enclosed volume generally has the shape of a truncated cone.

12. The component of claim 1 , wherein the liquid has a density substantially similar to a density of a human or animal body tissue.

13. The component of claim 12 , wherein the liquid comprises one or more of water and oil and a gel.

14. The component of claim 1 , wherein the liquid completely fills the enclosed volume.

15. A transducer arrangement comprising the component of claim 1 , and a transducer.

16. The transducer arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the transducer is configured to measure sound.

17. The transducer arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the transducer is an electret microphone.

18. A wearable transducer system comprising the transducer arrangement of claim 15 , and an attachment element for attaching the transducer arrangement to a human or animal.

19. The wearable transducer of claim 18 , wherein the attachment element comprises an elastomer.

20. A method of measuring vital signs in humans or animals using the component of claim 1 .

21. A method for manufacturing a component, the method comprising:
providing a mould arrangement defining a shape which defines a partially enclosed volume;
introducing a first portion of pre-polymer elastomer into the mould arrangement;
at least partially curing the first portion of pre-polymer elastomer to form a first elastomer portion which defines a partially enclosed volume;
introducing a liquid into the partially enclosed volume defined by the first elastomer portion to fully fill the partially enclosed volume;
introducing a second portion of pre-polymer elastomer on top of the liquid; and
at least partially curing the second portion of pre-polymer elastomer to form a substantially planar second elastomer portion on top of the liquid.

22. The method for manufacturing the component of claim 21 , further comprising:
providing a recess in one of the first or second elastomer portions; and
mounting a transducer in the recess.

Assignees

• Imperial College Sci Tech & Medicine

Inventors

• Guder Firat
• Cotur Yasin
• Kasimatis Michael

Classifications

• A61B2562/168

  Fluid filled sensor housings · CPC title

• A61B2562/164

  the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier · CPC title

• A61B2562/12

  Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements · CPC title

• A61B2503/40

  Animals · CPC title

• A61B7/04

  Electric stethoscopes · CPC title