A flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of wearable sensors, and provides a flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth. In the embodiments of the present invention, a conductive electrode layer and an insulating layer are integrally sewn and assembled to obtain a flexible wearable sensor device. On the one hand, the product assembly can be completed simply by laminating and sewing, with relatively low assembly difficulty and convenient wearing. On the other hand, the first electrode layer, the first insulating layer, the second electrode layer, the second insulating layer, and the third electrode layer are laminated in sequence from top to bottom, which is conducive to the collection of sweat. And after a certain amount of sweat is absorbed, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, and the third electrode layer can be automatically conducted through the sweat as a medium, and biological markers such as glucose, uric acid, and tyrosine in the sweat can be detected in real time on the body, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the sensor device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of wearable sensors, and particularly to a flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth. Background Art

[0002] With the development of technology and the continuous improvement of people's attention to personal physical health, the human wearable health monitoring system based on flexible electronics has received more and more attention. These types of intelligent systems provide a more effective way for people to view their own health status at any time and anywhere. As an important component of the wearable health monitoring system, intelligent flexible sensing electronic devices are essential. Their main function is to analyze and compare the information obtained from the human body with standard clinical reference data, and feedback abnormal signals to users or doctors for early warning and further diagnostic suggestions.

[0003] In recent years, the real-time monitoring of human sweat based on flexible sensor devices has attracted the attention of many researchers. By analyzing non-invasive and convenient monitoring means of biological fluids such as sweat, the changes in the human body's metabolic process or important physiological parameters can be tracked, fundamentally improving the monitoring and evaluation methods of health status. Therefore, sweat detection is particularly important in the analysis and detection of sweat. Compared with traditional sweat sample collection methods, wearable flexible sweat sensing and detection systems can limit the collection and analysis of sweat within the generated range, and can greatly shorten the time for individuals to understand their own health status through sweat components.

[0004] Currently, most flexible sensor devices used for sweat monitoring are generally prepared from materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and other plastic materials. Such flexible devices generally require additional devices to fix them to the human body, and it is difficult to achieve organic integration with clothes. In the specific use process, there are problems of inconvenient wearing, poor stability, and low detection efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides a flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth, which solves the technical problems of inconvenient wearing, poor stability, and low detection efficiency of existing flexible sensor devices.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth, including a conductive electrode layer and an insulating layer sewn and assembled together; the conductive electrode layer includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a third electrode layer, and the insulating layer includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer; the first electrode layer, the first insulating layer, the second electrode layer, the second insulating layer, and the third electrode layer are stacked in sequence from top to bottom;

[0007] The insulating layer is used to isolate the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer, as well as absorb and collect sweat;

[0008] When the insulating layer does not collect sweat, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer are open-circuited between each other; when the insulating layer collects sweat, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer are electrically connected between each other.

[0009] In the basic solution of this design, a conductive electrode layer and an insulating layer are integrally sewn and assembled to obtain a flexible wearable sensor device. On the one hand, the product assembly can be completed by simple lamination and sewing, with low assembly difficulty and convenient wearing; on the other hand, the first electrode layer, the first insulating layer, the second electrode layer, the second insulating layer and the third electrode layer are laminated in sequence from top to bottom, which is conducive to the collection of sweat. And after a certain amount of sweat is absorbed, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer can be automatically conducted through the sweat as a medium to perform real-time detection of biomarkers such as glucose, uric acid, and tyrosine in the sweat, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the sensor device.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the first electrode layer includes a conductive carbon cloth and a reference electrode coated on the conductive carbon cloth; the preparation steps of the reference electrode include:

[0011] A. Cover the surface of the conductive carbon cloth with Ag / AgCl paste;

[0012] B. Cure the Ag / AgCl paste on the conductive carbon cloth at a temperature of 120 °C.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the second electrode layer is a detection electrode made of conductive carbon cloth, and the detection electrode is a nano-sensitive material layer grown on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by electrochemical deposition or chemical reduction or magnetron sputtering.

[0014] The nano-sensitive material includes one or more of gold, platinum, and palladium.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the third electrode layer is a counter electrode made of conductive carbon cloth, and the counter electrode is a platinum metal layer grown on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by electrochemical deposition or chemical reduction or magnetron sputtering.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are both insulating fabrics, and the insulating fabrics are gauze or cotton or polyester.

[0017] This solution designs a flexible substrate made of conductive carbon cloth, which bears a reference electrode, a detection electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. Combining with flexible textile materials such as insulating cloth, the sensor device has the same extensibility as clothing (i.e., flexible characteristics), so that it can be integrally integrated with clothing by sewing, achieving the effect of fitting the skin and realizing true wearability.

[0018] In addition, noble metals and conductive carbon cloth are used as detection materials. Utilizing the stable characteristics of noble metals and carbon materials, it can ensure that the sensor device will not corrode and deteriorate in sweat, thus effectively increasing the active period of the sensitive material and extending the service life of the sensor.

[0019] Furthermore, using insulating cloth as the spacer material for the sensing electrodes can ensure that the three electrodes (reference electrode, detection electrode, auxiliary electrode) are in a non-conductive open circuit state before sweat absorption, and after absorbing a certain amount of sweat, the three electrodes change to a conduction state based on sweat, realizing non-invasive automatic detection of human health.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the present invention uses insulating wires to sew and assemble the conductive electrode layer and the insulating layer.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the present invention further includes a detection circuit and an electrical connection interface. The electrical connection interface includes a first electrical interface, a second electrical interface, and a third electrical interface. One end of the first electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit, and the other end is connected to the first electrode layer. One end of the second electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit, and the other end is connected to the second electrode layer. One end of the third electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit, and the other end is connected to the third electrode layer.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the first electrical interface, the second electrical interface, and the third electrical interface are all platinum wires. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the laminated structure of a carbon cloth-based flexible wearable sensor device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is an assembly schematic diagram of a carbon cloth-based flexible wearable sensor device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the typical morphology of the nano-sensitive material layer provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Wherein: a conductive electrode layer 1, including a first electrode layer 11, a second electrode layer 12, and a third electrode layer 13; an insulating layer 2, including a first insulating layer 21 and a second insulating layer 22; an electrical connection interface 3, including a first electrical interface 31, a second electrical interface 32, and a third electrical interface 33; a reference electrode RE, a working electrode WE, and a counter electrode CE. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] The following specifically illustrates the implementation manners of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The given examples are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. The accompanying drawings are for reference and illustration only and do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention's patent, because many changes can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope.

[0028] A flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth provided by an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 1 shown. In this embodiment, it includes a conductive electrode layer 1 and an insulating layer 2 sewn and assembled into one body; the conductive electrode layer 1 includes a first electrode layer 11, a second electrode layer 12, and a third electrode layer 13, and the insulating layer 2 includes a first insulating layer 21 and a second insulating layer 22; the first electrode layer 11, the first insulating layer 21, the second electrode layer 12, the second insulating layer 22, and the third electrode layer 13 are stacked in sequence from top to bottom;

[0029] The insulating layer 2 is used to isolate the first electrode layer 11, the second electrode layer 12, and the third electrode layer 13, and to absorb and collect sweat;

[0030] When the insulating layer 2 does not collect sweat, there is an open circuit between any two of the first electrode layer 11, the second electrode layer 12, and the third electrode layer 13; when the insulating layer 2 collects sweat, any two of the first electrode layer 11, the second electrode layer 12, and the third electrode layer 13 are electrically connected.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first electrode layer 11 includes a conductive carbon cloth and a reference electrode RE coated on the conductive carbon cloth; the preparation steps of the reference electrode RE include:

[0032] A. Cover the surface of the conductive carbon cloth with Ag / AgCl paste;

[0033] B. Cure the Ag / AgCl paste on the conductive carbon cloth at a temperature of 120°C.

[0034] In this embodiment, the second electrode layer 12 is a working electrode WE made of conductive carbon cloth, and the working electrode WE is a nano-sensitive material layer grown on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by an electrochemical deposition method, a chemical reduction method, or a magnetron sputtering method. The nano-sensitive material includes, but is not limited to, one or more of gold, platinum, and palladium.

[0035] In this embodiment, the detection electrode WE is used to detect the content of biomarkers in sweat, such as glucose, uric acid, tyrosine, etc.

[0036] In this embodiment, referring to Figure 3 , the third electrode layer 13 is an auxiliary electrode CE made of conductive carbon cloth, and the auxiliary electrode CE is a platinum metal layer grown on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by electrochemical deposition, chemical reduction or magnetron sputtering;

[0037] In this embodiment, the first insulating layer 21 and the second insulating layer 22 are both insulating fabrics, and the insulating fabrics include but are not limited to non-conductive fabrics such as gauze, cotton cloth, and polyester.

[0038] In this embodiment, a flexible substrate made of conductive carbon cloth is designed to carry the reference electrode RE, the detection electrode WE, and the auxiliary electrode CE. Combined with flexible textile materials such as insulating fabrics, the sensor device has the same extensibility (i.e., flexible characteristics) as clothing, so that it can be integrally integrated with clothing by sewing, achieving the effect of fitting the skin and realizing true wearability.

[0039] In addition, noble metals (gold, platinum, palladium) and conductive carbon cloth are used as detection materials. By utilizing the stable characteristics of noble metals and carbon materials (conductive carbon cloth), it can be ensured that the sensor device will not corrode and deteriorate in sweat, thereby effectively increasing the active period of the sensitive material and extending the service life of the sensor.

[0040] Furthermore, using insulating fabric as the spacer material for the sensing electrodes can ensure that the three electrodes (reference electrode RE, detection electrode WE, auxiliary electrode CE) are in a non-conductive open circuit state before sweat absorption, and after absorbing a certain amount of sweat, the three electrodes change to a conduction state based on sweat, realizing non-invasive automatic detection of human health.

[0041] In this embodiment, the present invention uses insulating wires to sew and assemble the conductive electrode layer 1 and the insulating layer 2.

[0042] In this embodiment, the present invention further includes a detection circuit and an electrical connection interface 3. The electrical connection interface 3 includes a first electrical interface 31, a second electrical interface 32, and a third electrical interface 33. One end of the first electrical interface 31 is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the first electrode layer 11. One end of the second electrical interface 32 is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the second electrode layer 12. One end of the third electrical interface 33 is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the third electrode layer 13.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first electrical interface 31, the second electrical interface 32, and the third electrical interface 33 are all platinum wires.

[0044] Specifically, referring to Figure 2, one end of the first electrical interface 31 is connected to the reference electrode RE on the first electrode layer 11, and the other end is connected to the detection circuit; one end of the second electrical interface 32 is connected to the detection electrode WE of the second electrode layer 12, and the other end is connected to the detection circuit; one end of the third electrical interface 33 is connected to the auxiliary electrode CE of the third electrode layer 13, and the other end is connected to the detection circuit.

[0045] In this embodiment, there is no limitation on the coating shapes of the reference electrode RE, the detection electrode WE, and the auxiliary electrode CE, such as square or circular.

[0046] In this embodiment, the flexible wearable sensor device can be integrated onto items such as headbands, T-shirts, and sweatpants, and thus worn on the forehead, chest, back, etc.

[0047] In the embodiment of the present invention, the conductive electrode layer 1 and the insulating layer 2 are integrally sewn and assembled to obtain the flexible wearable sensor device. On the one hand, the product assembly can be completed through simple lamination and sewing, with relatively low assembly difficulty and convenient wearing; on the other hand, the first electrode layer 11, the first insulating layer 21, the second electrode layer 12, the second insulating layer 22, and the third electrode layer 13 are laminated in sequence from top to bottom, which is beneficial to the collection of sweat, and after a certain amount of sweat is absorbed, the first electrode layer 11, the second electrode layer 12, and the third electrode layer 13 can be automatically conducted through the sweat as a medium, and biological markers such as glucose, uric acid, and tyrosine in the sweat can be detected in real time on the body, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the sensor device.

[0048] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited by the above embodiments. Any other changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, and simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be equivalent replacement methods and are all included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth, characterized in that: It includes a conductive electrode layer and an insulating layer sewn and assembled into one; the conductive electrode layer includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a third electrode layer, and the insulating layer includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer; the first electrode layer, the first insulating layer, the second electrode layer, the second insulating layer and the third electrode layer are stacked in sequence from top to bottom; The insulating layer is used to isolate the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer, and absorb and collect sweat; When the insulating layer does not collect sweat, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer are open-circuited between each other; When the insulating layer collects sweat, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer and the third electrode layer are electrically connected between each other.

2. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first electrode layer includes a conductive carbon cloth and a reference electrode coated on the conductive carbon cloth; The preparation steps of the reference electrode include: A. Cover the surface of the conductive carbon cloth with Ag / AgCl paste; B. Maintain a temperature of 120 °C to dry and cure the Ag / AgCl paste on the conductive carbon cloth.

3. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second electrode layer is a detection electrode made of conductive carbon cloth, and the detection electrode is a nano-sensitive material layer grown and prepared on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by electrochemical deposition method or chemical reduction method or magnetron sputtering method; The nano-sensitive material includes one or more of gold, platinum, and palladium.

4. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third electrode layer is an auxiliary electrode made of conductive carbon cloth, and the auxiliary electrode is a platinum metal layer grown and prepared on the surface of the conductive carbon cloth by electrochemical deposition method or chemical reduction method or magnetron sputtering.

5. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are both insulating fabrics, and the insulating fabrics are gauze or cotton or polyester.

6. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive electrode layer and the insulating layer are sewn and assembled with insulating wires.

7. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a detection circuit and an electrical connection interface. The electrical connection interface includes a first electrical interface, a second electrical interface and a third electrical interface. One end of the first electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the first electrode layer. One end of the second electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the second electrode layer. One end of the third electrical interface is connected to the detection circuit and the other end is connected to the third electrode layer.

8. The flexible wearable sensor device based on carbon cloth according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first electrical interface, the second electrical interface and the third electrical interface are all platinum wires.

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