Electronics for detection of a condition of tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579040-B2
Application number	US-201213603290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2012
Priority date	Sep 1, 2011
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a tissue based on a measurement of an electrical property of the tissue. In an example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least two conductive structures, each having a non-linear configuration, where the at least two conductive structures are disposed substantially parallel to each other. In another example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least one inductor structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus disposed on tissue for monitoring a condition of the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a first plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the first plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the first plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue;
a second plurality of conductive structures, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the second plurality of conductive structures to flexing, stretching, or torsion of the tissue to which the apparatus is disposed upon, thereby aiding in maintaining the second plurality of conductive structures in contact with the tissue, each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures being disposed substantially parallel to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures in an alternating and interdigitated configuration;
a first brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures, the first brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures;
a second brace structure disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, the second brace structure being electrically coupled to each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures, wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure aid in maintaining a substantially uniform separation between each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and each of the immediately adjacent conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures; and
a non-conducting spacer structure having a first end and a second end, the first end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the first brace structure and the second end of the non-conducting spacer structure being physically coupled to the second brace structure such that the non-conducting spacer structure aids in (i) maintaining a substantially uniform separation between the first brace structure and the second brace structure and (ii) maintaining a substantially uniform form factor of the apparatus during deformation of the apparatus,
wherein a capacitive based measurement performed by applying a potential across one of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and a directly adjacent one of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the condition of the tissue is a hydration state of the tissue, a volume of sweat lost, a mechanical property of the tissue, or a disease state of the tissue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the conductive structures in the first plurality of conductive structures and each of the conductive structures in the second plurality of conductive structures has a zig-zag configuration, a serpentine configuration, or a rippled configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure are both formed from a conductive material, and wherein the first brace structure electrically links the first plurality of conductive structures to an external circuit, and wherein the second brace structure electrically links the second plurality of conductive structures to the external circuit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-conducting spacer structure is disposed substantially parallel to a principal direction of the first plurality of conductive structures and the second plurality of conductive structures.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first brace structure is in electrical communication with a first electrical contact of the apparatus and the second brace structure is in electrical communication with a second electrical contact of the apparatus, and wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are in electrical communication with at least one of a power source, a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a wireless transceiver, and a temperature sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cross-link structures disposed between directly adjacent conductive structures, each cross-link structure of the plurality of cross-link structures being formed from a dielectric material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over at least a portion of the first plurality of conductive structures and the second plurality of conductive structures.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein portions of the encapsulation layer comprise an adhesive, and wherein the adhesive is configured to attach the portions of the encapsulation layer to the tissue.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of cross-link structures disposed between directly adjacent conductive structures, each cross-link structure of the plurality of cross-link structures being formed from the same material as the encapsulation layer.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the encapsulation layer is a polymer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the polymer is a polyimide.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a backing layer in physical communication with at least a portion of the first plurality of conductive structures and the second plurality of conductive structures, wherein the backing layer is a polymer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound apparatus, and wherein the ultrasound apparatus provides a measure of a condition of the tissue.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound apparatus comprises:
an ultrasound generator configured to be disposed proximate to a first portion of the tissue of interest, wherein the ultrasound generator comprises a piezoelectric crystal, wherein the ultrasound generator directs ultrasound waves at a portion of the tissue; and
an ultrasound receiver configured to be disposed proximate to a second portion of the tissue of interest that is different from the first portion,
wherein the ultrasound receiver provides a measure of ultrasound waves arriving at the second portion of the tissue, and
wherein the measure of ultrasound waves arriving at the second portion of the tissue provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
a battery, a transmitter, a transceiver, a memory, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, a processing unit, an analog sensing block, a UVA sensor, a UVB sensor, and a temperature sensor.

17. A method for monitoring a condition of a tissue, the method comprising:
receiving data indicative of the measurement, wherein the measurement is performed using at least one the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
analyzing the received data using at least one processor unit, the analysis providing the indication of the condition of the tissue.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the analyzing the received data comprises applying a

Assignees

• Rafferty Conor
• Carbeck Jeffrey D
• Dickson Alexander
• Dowling Kevin
• Hsu Yung-Yu
• Kacyvenski Isaiah
• Schlatka Benjamin
• Wei Henry
• Mc10 Inc

Inventors

• Rafferty Conor
• Carbeck Jeffrey D
• Dickson Alexander
• Dowling Kevin
• Hsu Yung-Yu
• Kacyvenski Isaiah
• Schlatka Benjamin
• Wei Henry

Classifications

• A61B5/316

  Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods · CPC title

• A61B8/4416

  related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions · CPC title

• A61B5/0002

  Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07) · CPC title

• A61B5/0245

  by using sensing means generating electric signals, {i.e. ECG signals} · CPC title

• A61B5/0024

  for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network · CPC title