Flexible Deep Tissue Temperature Measurement Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noninvasive deep tissue temperature measurement devices are bulky, costly, and require sanitization, making them unsuitable for disposability and increasing the risk of cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
A disposable temperature measurement device with a flexible substrate and an electrical circuit featuring a heater trace, thermal sensors, and insulating layers, allowing for easy fabrication and assembly, low mass, and conformability to body contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional Fox/Solman or Togawa ZHF devices are used to measure deep tissue temperature, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device size and mass increase, making disposability difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate with thin-film heater and sensor elements that can be conformally applied to the skin surface. This flexible film structure provides the necessary thermal measurement capabilities while maintaining a lightweight, low-profile design that enables disposability, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a disposable temperature measurement device with simplified construction that eliminates the need for heavy housing and complex assembly. By using a flexible substrate with integrated thin-film elements, the device achieves adequate measurement performance at a fraction of the mass of traditional devices, making single-use disposal economically and physically feasible.
2Measurement precision
If traditional Fox/Solman or Togawa ZHF devices are used to measure deep tissue temperature, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, requiring sanitization and storage infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater, temperature sensors, and flexible substrate into an integrated single-layer structure. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate housing, mounting brackets, and assembly procedures, dramatically reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy, thereby enabling disposable use without sanitization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a disposable temperature measurement device with simplified construction that eliminates the need for heavy housing and complex assembly. By using a flexible substrate with integrated thin-film elements, the device achieves adequate measurement performance at a fraction of the mass of traditional devices, making single-use disposal economically and physically feasible.
3Measurement precision
If thermal resistance is increased to improve zero heat flux measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but transient response time increases and device mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thermal resistance parameters of the flexible substrate and insulating layers to achieve the appropriate balance between measurement accuracy and response time. By carefully selecting material properties and layer thicknesses, the device achieves sufficient thermal isolation for accurate ZHF measurement while maintaining a lightweight construction that responds quickly to temperature changes.
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
Enables noninvasive, cost-effective, and efficient deep tissue temperature measurement with reduced size and mass, promoting disposability and minimizing cross-contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
a heater 24 is disposed at the top of the device 10, over the elements 20, 22, and 24
Implementation Method 2
the thermistors 20 measure a temperature difference, or error signal, across the thermal resistance 22
Implementation Method 3
A flexible insulating layer is attached to the second side, over the center section
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a temperature device, comprising a flexible substrate having first and second sides; the flexible substrate including a circular center section, a tab contiguous with the center section and extending from the center section in a first radial direction, and a tail contiguous with the center section and extending from the center section in a second radial direction; a first thermal sensor disposed on the first side, substantially at the center of the center section; a heater trace disposed on the first side, in the center section, around the first thermal sensor; a second thermal sensor disposed on the first side, in the tail; a plurality of electrical pads disposed on the first side, in the tab; a plurality of traces disposed on the first side and connecting the first and second thermal sensors and the heater trace with the plurality of electrical pads; the center section and the tail folded together to position the first and second thermal sensors in a spaced-apart relationship; and, a layer of flexible insulation disposed between the folded-together center section and tail.