Sweat Sensor Seal Membrane for Continuous Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sweat sensing technologies are labor-intensive, costly, and lack advanced adhesion, sealing, and fluidic strategies, limiting their use beyond basic scientific demonstrations and preventing them from becoming a viable biosensing platform for continuous or repeated monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A sweat sensor device with advanced adhesion and sealing strategies, including a membrane that selectively transports solutes from sweat to sensors, and optional components like absorbent mediums and refreshable collection layers, to protect sensors from contaminants and ensure accurate, continuous monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sweat sensors are placed on skin for continuous monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but sensor contamination from outside contaminants worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsensor contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible seal layer that conformally contacts the skin surface to enclose the sweat sensor. This flexible membrane creates a protective barrier that allows sweat to reach the sensor while blocking outside contaminants such as water, soap, and other environmental substances, thereby enabling continuous monitoring without contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal layer acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the sweat sensor. It selectively permits sweat molecules to pass through while blocking larger contaminants, effectively mediating the interaction between the sensor and its environment to maintain sensing capability while preventing contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If sensors are exposed to sweat for direct contact sensing, then sensing accuracy is improved, but device complexity for protection worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing accuracyVSAvoidprotection structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A thin flexible seal membrane is used to protect the sensor while maintaining sensing accuracy. This thin film allows sweat to reach the sensor surface for direct contact sensing but provides sufficient protection against contaminants, avoiding the need for complex multi-layer protective structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal layer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the sensor from contaminants, maintains the sensor's exposure to sweat for accurate sensing, provides ergonomic comfort against the skin, and enables water resistance for various activity levels. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If adhesive materials are used to secure sensor to skin, then device stability is improved, but adhesion reliability in water exposure worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidadhesion reliability in water

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible seal membrane is designed to conformally contact the skin surface and maintain adhesive bonding even when exposed to water. This flexible barrier prevents water from reaching the adhesive interface, maintaining adhesion reliability while allowing the device to remain stable during water-based activities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal layer provides beforehand protection to the adhesive bonding interface by creating a barrier that prevents water and other contaminants from reaching the adhesive. This prior cushioning ensures that the adhesive maintains its bonding properties throughout the device's operational life, including during water exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 reliable, ergonomic, and high-performance sweat sensing, allowing for continuous monitoring and reducing contamination risks, thus overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

a membrane between said sweat sensor and skin. Said membrane is effective to selectively transport one or more solutes from said sweat to said sweat sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective transport through membrane: Semipermeable Membrane

Data Source

PatentUS10932761B2Advanced sweat sensor adhesion, sealing, and fluidic strategies

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

AI summary

A sweat sensor device (200) includes one or more sweat sensors (220) and a seal (280) covering the one or more sweat sensors (220). The seal (280) is adapted to protect the sweat sensors (220) from outside contaminants when the device (200) is placed on the skin (12). The sweat sensor device (200) may include an absorbing medium (230) to absorb sweat from the skin (12) that is covered by the seal (280). The seal (280) can be permeable to gas, permeable to water and impermeable to at least one aqueous solute, or selectively permeable to at least one aqueous solute. The sweat sensor device (200) may include an artificial sweat stimulation mechanism (345) for stimulating sweat when the device (200) is placed on the skin (12).