Piezoelectric fiber sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) which enables the measurement of vital signs such as pulse and respiration by contacting the human body.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] PIEZOELECTRIC FIBER SENSOR

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a piezoelectric fiber sensor which enables the measurement of vital signs such as pulse and respiration by contacting the human body.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] There is no non-invasive fiber system used in real-time measurement of vital signs such as heart rate and respiration in the current technique. For this reason, there is a need for a detection system which performs vital sign detection in a non- invasive way.

[0007] The Great Britian patent document no. GB2444145, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a detector device for sensing skin temperatures as an aid to diagnosis of cancers or pre-cancers. The detector may consist of piezoelectric yarns or fibers in a textile fabric which is made up into a garment such as briefs, brassiere or bodice. Electricity is generated by the flexure during the movement of the body, for example in respiration, and it can collect data by means of piezoelectric fibers. The piezoelectric fiber material may be a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its co-polymers, which is a polarized fluoropolymer.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to realize a piezoelectric fiber sensor which enables the measurement of vital signs such as pulse and respiration by contacting the human body. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0010] “Piezoelectric Fiber Sensor” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

[0011] Figure l is a view of the front cross-sectional area of the inventive fiber sensor. Figure l is a view of the side cross-sectional area of the inventive fiber sensor. Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view of the inventive fiber sensor.

[0012] The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0013] 1. Piezoelectric fiber sensor

[0014] 2. First layer

[0015] 3. Second layer

[0016] 4. Third layer

[0017] The inventive piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) which enables the detection of vital signs including measurements in the form of pulse, systolic, diastolic values, vascular elasticity, cardiovascular aging and respiration by contacting the human body comprises at least one first layer (2) which is configured to enable signal / electric current to be generated; at least one second layer (3) which is positioned so as to be located above and below the first layer (2) and is configured to enable the current generated by the first layer (2) to be transmitted; and at least one third layer (4) which is configured to enable the structure to be kept monolithic by enclosing the first layer (2) and the second layer (3) from the outside. The first layer (2) included in the inventive piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) is configured to enable signal / electric current to be generated when it contacts the human body. The first layer (2) has a cross-sectional area of a quadrilateral form and is configured to form the innermost layer. The first layer (2) is not limited to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) material exhibiting piezoelectric properties and is made of materials exhibiting similar properties or co-polymers of PVDF or fluoropolymer materials. The first layer (2) is integrated with low-dimensional material therein by chemical methods in order to generate signal / electricity with high efficiency. The low-dimensional material integrated in the first layer (2) is any one of O-dimensional nanoparticle materials in the form of silver, gold, zinc oxide, and / or 1 -dimensional nanowire materials in the form of zinc oxide and silver, that increase material performance and precision; and / or 2-dimensional materials in the form of transition metal carbides, transition metal nitrides, transition metal dichalcogens, graphene and graphene oxide with a thickness of several atoms.

[0018] The second layer (3) included in the inventive piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) is configured to transmit the signal / electric current generated by the first layer (3). The second layer (3) is made of a polymer material that can conduct electric current in the form of CPE (chlorinated polyethylene) comprising a lowdimensional material for transmitting a signal / electric current. In one example of the invention, the second layer (3) is polyethylene embedded with carbon particles.

[0019] The third layer (4) included in the inventive piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) is the outermost layer used to maintain stability during production and is produced from polymers resistant to physical effects. The third layer (4) is configured to be used as a support layer for the structure by enclosing the structure from the outside while the fiber production is carried out with the thermal fiber drawing method after the first layer (2) and the second layer (3) are produced separately and a preform is formed by placing the second layer (3) under and above the first layer (2). The third layer (3) is configured so as to have a quadrilateral form. The third layer (4) is made of at least any one of the polymers in the form of polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) with suitable mechanical properties to protect the integrity of the structure during fiber drawing and subsequent use and that can be converted into fiber form through thermal processes.

[0020] Industrial Application of the Invention The inventive piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) is used in the detection of vital signs including measurements in the form of pulse, systolic, diastolic values, vascular elasticity, cardiovascular aging and respiration. The piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) has a flexible form and is resistant to mechanical deformation, as the first layer (2), the second layer (3) and the third layer (4) are made of polymer materials.

[0021] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Piezoelectric Fiber Sensor (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. The piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) which enables the detection of vital signs including measurements in the form of pulse, systolic, diastolic values, vascular elasticity, cardiovascular aging and respiration by contacting the human body; characterized by at least one first layer (2) which is configured to enable signal / electric current to be generated; at least one second layer (3) which is positioned so as to be located above and below the first layer (2) and is configured to enable the current generated by the first layer (2) to be transmitted; and at least one third layer (4) which is configured to enable the structure to be kept monolithic by enclosing the first layer (2) and the second layer (3) from the outside.

2. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the first layer (2) which is configured to enable signal / electric current to be generated when it contacts the human body.

3. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the first layer (2) which has a cross-sectional area of a quadrilateral form and is configured to form the innermost layer.

4. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the first layer (2) which is not limited to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) material exhibiting piezoelectric properties and is made of materials exhibiting similar properties or copolymers of PVDF or fluoropolymer materials.

5. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the first layer (2) which is integrated with low-dimensional material therein by chemical methods in order to generate signal / electricity with high efficiency.

6. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the first layer (2) wherein the low-dimensional material integrated therein is any one of O-dimensional nanoparticle materials in the form of silver, gold, zinc oxide, and / or 1 -dimensional nanowire materials in the form of zinc oxide and silver, that increase material performance and precision; and / or 2-dimensional materials in the form of transition metal carbides, transition metal nitrides, transition metal dichalcogens, graphene and graphene oxide with a thickness of several atoms.

7. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the second layer (3) which is configured to transmit the signal / electric current generated by the first layer (3).

8. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the second layer (3) which is made of a polymer material that can conduct electric current in the form of CPE (chlorinated polyethylene) comprising a low-dimensional material for transmitting a signal / electric current.

9. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the second layer (3) an example of which is polyethylene embedded with carbon particles.

10. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the third layer (4) which is the outermost layer used to maintain stability during production and is produced from polymers resistant to physical effects.

11. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the third layer (4) which is configured to be used as a support layer for the structure by enclosing the structure from the outside while the fiber production is carried out with the thermal fiber drawing method after the first layer (2) and the second layer (3) are produced separately and a preform is formed by placing the second layer (3) under and above the first layer (2).

12. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the third layer (4) which is configured so as to have a quadrilateral form.

13. A piezoelectric fiber sensor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the third layer (4) which is made of at least any one of the polymers in the form of polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) with suitable mechanical properties to protect the integrity of the structure during fiber drawing and subsequent use and that can be converted into fiber form through thermal processes.

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