Disposable wireless pressure sensor

Abstract

In general, a dielectric polymer substrate provided and an antenna formed upon the dielectric polymer substrate. A piezoelectric polymer layer (e.g., a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film) can be formed above the dielectric polymer substrate. Additionally, an interdigital (IDT) layer can be configured upon the PVDF piezoelectric layer, thereby permitting the piezoelectric polymer layer and the IDT layer to detect pressure data and transmit the data to a receiver via the antenna.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] Embodiments are generally related to sensing devices and applications. Embodiments are also related to pressure sensor devices, systems and methods thereof. Embodiments are additionally related to disposable sensing devices based on piezoelectric polymer film materials. Embodiments are additionally related to medical devices for sensing bodily pressure based on fluid within a conduit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A variety of sensors can be utilized to detect conditions, such as pressure and temperature. The ability to detect pressure and / or temperature is an advantage to any device exposed to variable pressure conditions, which can be severely affected by these conditions. An example of such a device is a catheter, which of course, can experience variations in both temperature and pressure. Many different techniques have been proposed for sensing the pressure and / or temperature in catheters, and for delivering this information to an operator so that he ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The aforementioned aspects of the invention and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. Disposable sensor systems and method are disclosed. In general, a dielectric polymer substrate provided and a microstrip antenna formed upon the dielectric polymer substrate. A piezoelectric polymer layer (e.g., a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film) and the microstrip antenna can be formed flexible in nature, which makes them suitable for conformal wraparound designs and applications. Additionally, an interdigital (IDT) layer can be configured upon the PVDF piezoelectric layer, thereby permitting the piezoelectric polymer layer and the IDT layer to detect pressure data and transmit the data to a receiver via the antenna.

Problems solved by technology

One of the problems with current SAW sensor designs, particularly those designs adapted to delicate pressure and temperature sensing applications, is the inability of conventional SAW sensing systems to meet the demand in low pressure applications.

Such systems are inherently expensive, awkward, and often are not reliable in accurately sensing air pressure and temperature.

To date, such components have not been adequately achieved.

Such devices are disadvantageous for medical applications, because the above-referenced materials utilized by such devices are inherently self-resonant, having extremely low piezoelectric coupling coefficient, expensive and difficult for micro-machining, and consequently, grossly reduce the possibility of making a low cost pressure sensor for medical applications.

Conventional quartz-based SAW pressure sensors are also expensive to implement in medical applications, rendering their widespread use limited.

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