Adsorption type sweat sensor with fish-like structure

Abstract

The invention relates to an adsorption-type sweat sensor with a fish-like structure, and the adsorption-type sweat sensor sequentially comprises a collection layer from bottom to top, one side of the collection layer is provided with a collection groove, the collection groove is internally provided with a collection hole penetrating through the collection layer, and the collection groove faces a surface to be adsorbed; the detection layer is arranged on one side, far away from the collection groove, of the collection layer, and one side, close to the collection layer, of the detection layer is provided with a collection chamber communicated with the collection hole, a vent hole communicated with the collection chamber through a sweat flow channel, and a plurality of detection chambers connected to one side of the sweat flow channel; one end of the sweat flow channel is connected to the collection chamber, the other end of the sweat flow channel is connected to the vent hole, and the vent hole penetrates through the detection layer; the suction cup is arranged on the side, away from the collection layer, of the detection layer, and the suction cup is communicated with the ventilation hole. The invention has the characteristics of strong adsorption capacity, small skin irritation, high sweat detection accuracy and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sweat detection, in particular to an adsorption-type sweat sensor with a scorpionfish-like structure. Background Art

[0002] Sweat, a noninvasive biofluid, holds great potential for noninvasive wearable sensing due to its ease of collection and rich information content. The pH of sweat can reflect changes in electrolyte concentrations, indicative of disease and metabolic activity. Therefore, reliable monitoring of sweat pH is crucial for health monitoring and applications. Furthermore, sweat biomarkers, such as electrolytes, small molecules, and proteins, can be used to assess overall health, including hydration status, cystic fibrosis, physical stress, and bone mineral loss. Traditional sweat sampling methods, such as whole-body washout techniques, patches, and polymer bags / membranes, are noninvasive but require cumbersome procedures and specialized personnel. Challenges include sweat evaporation and pre-analytical biomarker degradation. These factors significantly compromise the reliability and sensitivity of detection results. Consequently, to address these challenges, integrating sampling and analysis into wearable sweat sensors through material functionalization and device miniaturization has become a popular trend.

[0003] Existing sweat sensors are all adhered to the skin surface via an adhesive layer. The stickiness of the adhesive layer may be affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, causing the sweat sensor to loosen or fall off during use. Especially in high temperature and high humidity environments after exercise, the stickiness of the adhesive layer may weaken, affecting the stability of the sensor. When the adhesive layer is applied to people with sensitive skin or a lot of body hair, the adhesive layer may irritate the skin or be difficult to adhere firmly due to excessive hair. The adhesive layer may also hinder the natural flow of sweat, resulting in obstructed sweat secretion, thereby affecting the accuracy of the test results. In addition, the adhesive in the adhesive layer may adsorb or react to certain components in sweat, further affecting the test results.

[0004] Therefore, designing a new sweat sensor that is less affected by environmental factors, has stable adsorption on the skin surface, does not affect sweat secretion, and does not affect sweat detection results is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a non-glue layer type sweat sensor with strong adsorption ability, natural sweat secretion and high detection accuracy.

[0006] The present application provides an adsorption-type sweat sensor having a scorpion-like structure, which comprises, from bottom to top:

[0007] A collection layer, wherein a collection groove is provided on one side of the collection layer, a collection hole is provided in the collection groove and penetrates the collection layer, and the collection groove faces the surface to be adsorbed;

[0008] A detection layer is provided on a side of the collection layer away from the collection slot, and a side of the detection layer close to the collection layer is provided with a collection chamber connected to the collection hole, a vent connected to the collection chamber through a sweat flow channel, and a plurality of detection chambers with sweat detection chips connected to one side of the sweat flow channel; one end of the sweat flow channel is connected to the collection chamber, and the other end is connected to the vent, and the vent runs through the detection layer;

[0009] The suction cup is used to provide negative adsorption pressure. The suction cup is arranged on a side of the detection layer away from the collection layer, and the suction cup is connected to the vent.

[0010] More specifically, a plurality of guide walls are provided in the collection trough, and the guide walls are connected to the side walls of the collection layer and extend toward the collection hole.

[0011] More specifically, the height of the guide wall is less than or equal to the height of the collection trough.

[0012] More specifically, the height of the guide wall on the side close to the collecting hole is smaller than the height of the guide wall on the side away from the collecting hole.

[0013] More specifically, there is a raised space between the guide wall and the surface to be bonded.

[0014] More specifically, a guide structure is provided in the collection groove, and the guide structure drives the sweat to the collection hole.

[0015] More specifically, the height of the guide structure is less than or equal to the height of the collection trough.

[0016] More specifically, the sweat flow channel is partially arranged around the collection chamber, and the detection chamber is arranged on a side of the sweat flow channel away from the collection chamber.

[0017] More specifically, the sweat detection chip is selected from any one of a chloride ion detection chip, a pH detection chip, a glucose detection chip, and a calcium ion detection chip.

[0018] More specifically, the sweat detection chip in at least one of the detection chambers is different from the sweat detection chips in other detection chambers.

[0019] More specifically, the collection layer, detection layer and suction cup are all made of flexible materials.

[0020] More specifically, the collection layer, detection layer and suction cup are all made of transparent materials.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] This invention utilizes a smelt-like adsorption structure to overcome the unstable adsorption capacity of conventional adhesive-layer sweat sensors in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. The smelt-like adsorption structure is minimally irritating to the skin, does not affect normal respiration and perspiration, maintains the skin's natural state, and has no interference with sweat secretions, resulting in higher detection accuracy. The smelt-like adsorption structure can also meet the sweat detection needs of users (such as swimmers and underwater workers) in aquatic environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the sweat sensor in this application;

[0024] Figure 2 is another exploded schematic diagram of the sweat sensor in this application;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the acquisition layer in one embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the acquisition layer in another embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 5 is a top view of the acquisition layer in this application;

[0028] Figure 6 It is a bottom view of the detection layer in this application;

[0029] Figure 7 is a top view of the detection layer in this application;

[0030] Figure 8 is a side view of the suction cup in this application;

[0031] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of sweat flow in the detection layer of the present application;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the application attached to the surface of human skin.

[0033] In the figure: 10, collection layer; 11, collection trough; 12, guide wall; 13, collection hole; 14, diversion structure; 20, detection layer; 21, collection chamber; 22, detection chamber; 23, sweat microchannel; 24, ventilation hole; 30, suction cup. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in a clear and complete manner. It should be understood that the embodiments described are only a portion of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are intended to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate and simplify the description of the present invention. They are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances. In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0037] The adsorption-type sweat sensor designed in this application has an adsorption method similar to that of a scorpion, and can be firmly adsorbed on the human body surface without damaging the skin, affecting sweat secretion, or affecting sweat composition. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device specifically comprises a collection layer 10 facing the surface to be adsorbed, a detection layer 20 disposed on the collection layer 10, and a suction cup 30 disposed on the detection layer 20. After being collected by the collection layer 10, sweat is collected and collected into the detection layer 20, where various sweat indicators (such as pH value, chloride ion concentration, glucose concentration, calcium ion concentration, etc.) are detected. The suction cup 30 is used to provide adsorption pressure.

[0038] The collection layer 10 is provided with a collection groove 11, and a collection hole 13 is provided in the collection groove 11, which penetrates the collection layer 10. The collection groove 11 has a certain depth. When the collection layer 10 is adsorbed on the skin surface, the skin portion bulges outward. Sweat secreted by the sweat glands contacts the collection groove 11 and gradually gathers at the collection hole 13. Then, it enters the detection layer 20 through the collection hole 13.

[0039] The collection layer 10 can be square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, or triangular. To avoid the possibility of small gaps and loose seals caused by the corners of rectangular or triangular shapes, the collection layer 10 preferably adopts a circular structure. The high degree of symmetry of the circular collection layer 10 ensures that each point is evenly compressed and fits tightly to the contact surface. When the sweat sensor is used in underwater scenarios, the circular structure can also reduce the impact of water flow. The collection layer 10 can also adopt a more streamlined elliptical structure to further reduce the impact of water flow.

[0040] In some specific embodiments, in order to avoid forming a closed space for accumulating sweat with the collection groove 11 after the skin bulges, and to avoid the accumulation and waste of sweat due to the closure, the collection groove 11 is set to a groove surface structure (such as a cone surface) with a deep middle and low sides. After the skin is adsorbed and bulges toward the collection groove 11, there is always a gap between the skin and the collection groove 11, which can ensure that the sweat eventually flows into the collection hole 13.

[0041] In some specific embodiments, in order to improve the sweat collection speed and sweat utilization rate, it is possible to avoid excessive lateral flow of sweat in the collection groove 11 instead of directly flowing toward the collection hole 13. Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of guide walls 12 are provided in the collection groove 11. One end of the guide wall 12 is connected to the side wall of the collection groove 11, and the other end extends toward the collection hole 13. To prevent the guide wall 12 from affecting the adsorption effect, the height of the guide wall 12 should be set to be less than or equal to the height of the collection groove 11. The collection groove 11 is divided into several sub-areas by the guide wall 12. When the skin is adsorbed and comes into direct contact with the guide wall 12, the sweat secreted by the sweat glands in each sub-area flows directly to the collection hole 13 without entering other sub-areas. The guide wall 12 can also enhance the friction between the skin and the sweat sensor to prevent slippage. In a further improvement, the side of the guide wall 12 facing the skin to be adsorbed is a rough surface. The rough surface can further enhance the stability of the sweat sensor adsorption.

[0042] In some specific embodiments, if the collection groove 11 is a flat groove surface, in order to better increase the adsorption force, the height of the guide wall 12 close to the collection hole 13 is set to be smaller than the height on the side away from the collection hole 13, that is, the guide wall 12 forms a raised space with the skin surface, which is conducive to the raised changes of the skin during adsorption.

[0043] In some specific embodiments, to further increase the sweat collection speed, such as Figure 4 As shown, a guide structure 14 is also provided within the collection trough 11. This guide structure 14 can be a barbed structure, ratchet structure, or scale structure directed toward the collection hole 13. This structure enhances the capillary action of the microscopic interface, allowing sweat to flow more quickly toward the collection hole 13 under self-drive. The height of the guide structure 14 should not exceed that of the collection trough 11. If a guide wall 12 is provided, the height should not be higher than that of the guide wall 12. When the guide structure 14 is a barbed structure, the fine barbs can further increase friction with the skin surface, enhancing the sensor's adsorption.

[0044] In some specific embodiments, Figure 5 As shown, collection hole 13 is located at the geometric center of collection slot 11, ensuring that sweat glands at various locations reach collection hole 13 at roughly the same time. Because collection hole 13 needs to further connect to the sweat channels and gas flow channels in detection layer 20, its placement at the geometric center also facilitates the spatial layout of the various chambers and flow channels in detection layer 20, improving space utilization.

[0045] like Figure 6 As shown in the bottom view of the detection layer 20, the detection layer 20 is provided with a collection chamber 21 corresponding to the collection hole 13, a sweat flow channel 23 connected to the collection chamber 21, one end of the sweat flow channel 23 is connected to the collection chamber 21, and the other end is connected to the vent 24. Figure 7 The top view of the detection layer 20 is shown, and the ventilation holes 24 pass through the detection layer 20. A plurality of detection chambers 22 are provided on the side of the sweat flow channel 23. The number of detection chambers 22 can be adjusted according to the needs of a single test item, and can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more. In a further improvement, in order to avoid the negative pressure inside the device being insufficient due to the large amount of sweat secretion entering the ventilation holes 24 and affecting the adsorption performance of the chip, the number of detection chambers 22 is preferably greater than the number of required test items, for example Figure 6 In the illustrated detection layer 20 having five detection chambers 22, four detection items are required. The last detection chamber 22 serves as a buffer chamber to prevent sweat from entering the vents 24. Once sweat enters the collection chamber 21 through the collection holes 13, the capillary action of the microchannels and the negative pressure of the suction cups cause the sweat to flow further through the sweat microchannels into the detection chambers 22. To improve the spatial utilization of the detection layer 20, the sweat channels 23 are arranged to surround the collection chambers 21, with the detection chambers 22 located on the side of the channels 23 away from the collection chambers 21.

[0046] A sweat detection chip is placed in detection chamber 22. The chip is preferably made of paper, which is absorbent and can further assist in filling detection chamber 22 with sweat. The sweat detection chip can be selected from any of a chloride ion detection chip, a pH detection chip, a glucose detection chip, and a calcium ion detection chip. Different detection chambers 22 can contain sweat detection chips for the same or different detection targets. For example, if there are four detection chambers 22, each can contain a detection chip for a different detection target, or all can contain pH detection chips or glucose detection chips. The average of the multiple detection chips is used as the final result in subsequent test results. Sweat detection chips can also be placed in other numbers or combinations.

[0047] A paper-based pH detection chip can be made from Whatman chromatographic filter paper with a pH indicator added. Specifically, the Whatman chromatographic filter paper is cut into 3mm diameter circles. 0.5μL of a universal indicator is added to the circular filter paper to create a pH detection zone. After evaporation, the pH detection chip is obtained. Sweat detection chips can also be made using similar methods, such as chloride ion detection chips, glucose detection chips, or calcium ion detection chips.

[0048] The suction cup 30 is the source of the sweat sensor's adsorption force. Figure 8 As shown, the suction cup 30 is a hollow raised structure, and the hollow part of the suction cup 30 is connected to the detection layer 20 through the vent 24. Pressing the suction cup 30 can expel the air inside the suction cup 30 and the detection layer 20, and releasing it forms a vacuum negative pressure environment so that it can be firmly adsorbed on the skin surface.

[0049] To ensure the sweat sensor adheres better to uneven skin surfaces, the collection layer 10, detection layer 20, and suction cup 30 are all made of flexible materials, such as PDMS. To facilitate observation of the sweat detection chip's detection results within the detection chamber 22, the detection layer 20 and suction cup 30 are both made of transparent materials.

[0050] When the device is in use, the air in the vent 24, sweat channel 23, detection chamber 22, collection chamber 21 and collection slot 11 of the sensor is exhausted by pressing the suction cup 30, and then the device is placed on the skin surface. At this time, the suction cup 30 is released and the device is stably adsorbed on the skin surface (such as Figure 10 As shown in the figure, after the sweat is secreted from the skin surface, it enters the collection groove 11 of the collection layer 10. Due to the partial obstruction of the guide wall 12 and the driving effect of the guide structure 14, the sweat further flows into the collection hole 13. The sweat in the collection hole 13 enters the collection chamber 21 of the detection layer 20 due to capillary suction and negative pressure, and flows in the sweat flow channel 23. Figure 9As shown, after flowing to the first detection chamber 22, the sweat enters the detection chamber 22. Due to the local negative pressure in the detection chamber 22 and the strong water absorption capacity of the paper sweat detection chip inside, the sweat will first fill the detection chamber 22 and then flow to the next detection chamber 22. The user can directly observe the sweat sensor's detection results of various sweat indicators through the transparent suction cup 30 and the detection layer 20.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations of these embodiments may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and the changes still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adsorption-type sweat sensor with a remora-like structure, characterized in that: From bottom to top, they include: A collection layer, wherein a collection groove is provided on one side of the collection layer, a collection hole is provided in the collection groove and penetrates the collection layer, and the collection groove faces the surface to be adsorbed; A detection layer is provided on a side of the collection layer away from the collection slot, and a side of the detection layer close to the collection layer is provided with a collection chamber connected to the collection hole, a vent connected to the collection chamber through a sweat flow channel, and a plurality of detection chambers with sweat detection chips connected to one side of the sweat flow channel; one end of the sweat flow channel is connected to the collection chamber, and the other end is connected to the vent, and the vent runs through the detection layer; The suction cup is used to provide negative adsorption pressure. The suction cup is arranged on a side of the detection layer away from the collection layer, and the suction cup is connected to the vent.

2. The sweat sensor according to claim 1, wherein A plurality of guide walls are provided in the collection trough, and the guide walls are connected to the side walls of the collection layer and extend toward the collection hole.

3. The sweat sensor according to claim 2, wherein: The height of the guide wall is less than or equal to the height of the collecting trough.

4. The sweat sensor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The height of the guide wall on the side close to the collecting hole is smaller than the height on the side away from the collecting hole.

5. The sweat sensor according to claim 2, wherein: A guide structure is provided in the collection groove, and the guide structure drives the sweat to the collection hole.

6. The sweat sensor according to claim 5, characterized in that The height of the diversion structure is less than or equal to the height of the collecting trough.

7. The sweat sensor according to claim 1, wherein The sweat flow channel is partially arranged around the collection chamber, and the detection chamber is arranged on a side of the sweat flow channel away from the collection chamber.

8. The sweat sensor according to claim 1, wherein The sweat detection chip is selected from any one of a chloride ion detection chip, a pH detection chip, a glucose detection chip, and a calcium ion detection chip.

9. The sweat sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that The sweat detection chip in at least one of the detection chambers is different from the sweat detection chips in other detection chambers.

10. The sweat sensor according to claim 1, wherein The collection layer, detection layer and suction cup are all made of flexible materials.

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