Knitted Textile Sensor for Liquid and Temperature Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing humidity and liquid detection systems for hospital beds are not deformable and flexible, making them prone to damage during mattress flexion or extension, and are not suitable for detecting liquids in various contexts such as building leaks.

Innovation Solution

A textile device with knitted non-insulated conductive wires integrated into a matrix fabric, allowing for high extensibility and flexibility, enabling detection of liquids, humidity, and temperature variations, and capable of adapting to different shapes and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conductive circuits are inserted into or affixed to a support layer, then humidity detection sensitivity is improved, but the device becomes prone to damage during flexion or extension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity detection sensitivityVSAvoidresistance to deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive circuits are merged with the knitted fabric structure itself, forming an integrated textile device where the circuits and support material become a unified flexible structure that moves together without relative displacement or damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a flexible knitted fabric structure that can bend and stretch without damaging the conductive circuits, replacing rigid support layers with a textile-based flexible substrate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the support layer is made rigid or semi-rigid, then the conductive circuits are protected from damage, but patient comfort is reduced and the mattress cover becomes difficult to fold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of conductive circuitsVSAvoidpatient comfort and foldability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The entire device is constructed as a flexible textile structure that can be easily folded and conforms to patient body contours, eliminating the need for rigid protective layers while maintaining circuit integrity through the knitted integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed to be dynamically flexible, allowing it to adapt to moving parts of the body and be easily folded for storage or transport, while the knitted structure ensures circuits move with the fabric without damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If traditional humidity sensors are placed between patient body and mattress, then immediate intervention is enabled, but the system lacks versatility for other liquid detection contexts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmediate detection capabilityVSAvoidapplicability to different contexts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The textile device with knitted conductive circuits can be applied to multiple contexts including hospital mattresses, building leak detection, and personal health monitoring, as the flexible textile structure adapts to different surfaces and applications while maintaining detection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The textile device effectively detects leaks and humidity changes, providing enhanced durability and versatility for applications in hospital beds, historic building monitoring, and personal health monitoring, while maintaining patient comfort and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

there is present an electrical resistance measuring device configured to measure an electric resistance in the first electric circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

the electrical resistance measuring device is configured to measure variations of the electric resistance in function of temperature variations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature coefficient of resistance: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11913147B2Textile sensor for the detection of liquids and temperature, and method of making same

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 KNITRONIX SRL

AI summary

A textile device for detecting liquids comprising a matrix fabric obtained by knitting, a first non-insulated conductive wire and a second non-insulated conductive wire knitted with the matrix fabric, a source of electric energy connected to the non-insulated conductive wires in order to create a first electric circuit and to have a potential difference between the non-insulated conductive wires, an electrical resistance measuring device configured to measure the electric resistance R in the first electric circuit. The textile device is configured in such a way that, when the non-insulated conductive wires electrically connect by means of a liquid, the electrical resistance measuring system measures a variation of electric resistance R in said first electric circuit. Furthermore, at least one insulated conductive wire is provided connected to a source of electric energy in order to create a second electric circuit.