Epidermal Thermal Sensing Patches for Conformal Tissue Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable electronic systems struggle to provide robust, conformal integration with tissue surfaces for diverse applications in physiological and environmental sensing, particularly in maintaining mechanical integrity and minimizing adverse effects on the tissue.
Innovation Solution
Development of tissue-mounted electronic and photonic systems with flexible and stretchable architectures that incorporate thermal actuators and sensors on soft, elastomeric substrates, enabling spatially and temporally resolved thermal transport sensing, while minimizing impact on the tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If wearable electronic systems use conventional rigid structures, then manufacturing precision and device stability are improved, but conformal integration with tissue surfaces and mechanical compliance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible and stretchable substrate materials that can conform to the curvilinear surface of tissue while maintaining device functionality. These flexible substrates enable the electronic system to adapt to tissue morphology changes during movement, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and conformal integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes composite material structures combining flexible substrates with functional electronic components. This composite approach allows the device to achieve both mechanical compliance with tissue surfaces and sufficient structural integrity for stable operation, addressing the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wearable electronic systems use soft elastomeric substrates for conformal contact, then adaptability to tissue surfaces is improved, but mechanical strength and structural integrity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures where soft elastomeric substrates are combined with reinforcement layers or protective coatings. This composite design maintains the conformal contact capability of soft materials while adding mechanical strength to prevent device failure during movement and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure implements nested protective layers where functional electronic components are embedded within or protected by outer structural layers. This nesting approach protects vulnerable components while maintaining the soft, conformal outer surface needed for tissue contact.
3Measurement precision
If thermal actuators and sensors are integrated on tissue surfaces, then measurement precision of thermal transport properties is improved, but adverse physical effects on tissue worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized thermal actuation and sensing at specific measurement points rather than broad area heating. This localized approach minimizes the total thermal energy applied to tissue, reducing adverse effects while maintaining sufficient signal strength for precise thermal transport property measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal actuators operate in periodic or pulsed modes rather than continuous operation. This periodic action allows tissue to cool between heating cycles, preventing excessive temperature accumulation and reducing thermal damage risk while still enabling accurate thermal property characterization through repeated measurements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These systems enable accurate characterization of thermal and physiological properties of tissues, such as hydration state and vasculature information, with minimal disruption, through conformal contact and robust mechanical integration.
Implementation Method 1
thermal actuators and sensors supported by the flexible or stretchable substrate
Implementation Method 2
one or more thermal actuators and a plurality of thermal sensors supported by the flexible or stretchable substrate for characterizing a thermal transport property of the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue-mounted devices and methods for monitoring a thermal transport property (e.g., thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity) of tissue, such as skin, are disclosed. The devices conformally mount to the tissue and comprise one or more thermal actuators and a plurality of sensors. The actuator applies heat to the tissue and the sensors detect a spatio temporal distribution of a physiological tissue parameter or physical property resulting from the heating. This spatio temporal information may be correlated with a rate, velocity and/or direction of blood flow, the presence of a vascular occlusion, circulation changes due to inflammation, hydration level and other physiological parameters.