A resistive microfluidic pressure sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018067000-A1
Application number	US-201615559617-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A resistive microfluidic pressure sensor is provided which comprises a first layer comprising a microfluidic channel with a carbon-based conductive liquid and a second layer comprising at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes being adapted to measure resistance of the carbon-based conductive liquid upon deformation of the microfluidic channel as a result of a change in force applied on a surface of the sensor.

First claim

1 . A resistive microfluidic pressure sensor comprising:
a first layer comprising a microfluidic channel, the microfluidic channel comprising a carbon-based conductive liquid; and a second layer comprising at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes being adapted to measure resistance of the carbon-based conductive liquid upon deformation of the microfluidic channel as a result of a change in force applied on a surface of the sensor.

2 . The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein carbon-based conductive liquid comprises: graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphite, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, functionalised carbon-based nanomaterials, or a combination thereof.

3 . The sensor according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the carbon-based conductive liquid is graphene oxide is ≧3.0 mg/mL.

4 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor is flexible.

5 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the first layer and the second layer are of the same or different material, and are formed from an elastomeric material.

6 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the first layer and the second layer are of the same or different material, wherein the material comprises silicone rubber, latex rubber, nitrile rubber, polyurethane (PU), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polybutyrate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), or a combination thereof.

7 . The sensor according to claim 6 , wherein the first layer comprises silicone rubber and the second layer comprises PDMS.

8 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the change in force is from a change in pressing force, bending force, shearing force and/or stretching force.

9 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the first layer and the second layer are arranged to seal the carbon-based conductive liquid within the microfluidic channel, the carbon-based conductive liquid being interposed between the first layer and the second layer.

10 . The sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein application of a force on the surface of the sensor causes deformation of the microfluidic channel thereby decreasing the cross-sectional area of the microfluidic channel and increasing the resistance of the carbon-based conductive liquid.

11 . A wearable device for pressure sensing comprising the resistive microfluidic pressure sensor according to any preceding claim.

12 . The wearable device according to claim 11 , wherein the wearable device comprises a glove, watch, armband, headgear, socks, or an insole.

Assignees

• Nat Univ Singapore

Inventors

• Kenry
• Yeo Joo Chuan
• Lim Chwee Teck

Classifications

• G06F3/014

  Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves · CPC title

• G01L1/22

  using resistance strain gauges · CPC title

• G01L1/20

  by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids (of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18); by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress · CPC title

• G01L5/226

  to manipulators, e.g. the force due to gripping · CPC title

• A61B5/225

  of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force · CPC title