Wearable Sweat Sensor Using Zero-Energy Micro Pump for Non-Invasive Biomarker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomarker detection methods are invasive, costly, and limited to discrete time points, making continuous and real-time monitoring of biomarkers in biofluids challenging, especially for frequent measurements which increase discomfort and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
Development of wearable biofluid collection and sensing devices that use a specially designed interface and zero-energy micro pump to non-invasively collect and analyze biomarkers like ions, hormones, and proteins from sweat, tears, or saliva, featuring fully depleted field effect transistor sensors for real-time, continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blood samples are obtained frequently for biomarker measurement, then measurement precision and continuity are improved, but patient discomfort and inconvenience increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful invasive blood sampling process and replaces it with non-invasive sweat collection. The wearable device collects biomarkers through sweat at the skin surface, eliminating the need for repeated needle punctures while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sweat as an intermediary fluid to obtain biomarkers. Instead of directly accessing blood through invasive sampling, the device uses sweat - a readily available biofluid that contains biomarkers - as a mediator to achieve continuous non-invasive measurement.
2Measurement precision
If traditional laboratory analysis methods are used, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but time consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device performs self-service by integrating sensing capabilities directly at the collection site. The device detects and analyzes biomarkers in sweat locally without requiring external laboratory equipment or technician intervention, enabling immediate results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical and manual laboratory analysis system with integrated electronic sensors and signal processing circuits. The sensing device converts biochemical signals from sweat into electrical signals for direct reading, eliminating the need for traditional laboratory instrumentation and expert operation.
3Productivity
If continuous biomarker monitoring is implemented using existing techniques, then real-time data availability is improved, but the complexity and cost of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device achieves multi-functionality by integrating collection, sensing, and data processing capabilities into a single platform. The same device structure serves multiple purposes: collecting sweat through the interface, detecting various biomarkers using sensor arrays, and processing signals locally, eliminating the need for separate complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible thin-film structures for the device interface and sensor substrates. This allows the complex sensing system to be conformally attached to the skin surface, maintaining simplicity in form factor while enabling continuous monitoring through flexible integration of multiple sensing elements.
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 faster, lower-cost biomarker sensing, allowing for earlier disease diagnosis and improved health monitoring with continuous, non-invasive data collection and analysis, reducing the need for frequent blood samples and laboratory analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The devices described herein include a specially designed interface and a zero-energy micro pump that allow the device to be comfortably affixed directly to the skin of a user while biofluid is efficiently and non-invasively collected from the skin of the user
Implementation Method 2
In certain embodiments, the devices described herein include a specially designed fully depleted field effect transistor (FD-FET) sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are devices for collecting and/or channeling a biofluid (e.g., sweat, tears, saliva) and detecting and/or quantifying one or more biomarkers in the biofluid. The one or more biomarkers may include, for example, ions, salts thereof, hormones and/or steroids, proteins, metabolites and organic compounds. In certain embodiments, the devices described herein include a specially designed interface and a zero-energy micro pump that allow the device to be comfortably affixed directly to the skin of a user while biofluid is efficiently and non-invasively collected from the skin of the user. In certain embodiments, the biofluid collection and sensing device is housed on or in another wearable device, such as a wrist band or a smart watch. In certain embodiments, the devices described herein are disposable (e.g., after a certain period of use and/or wear the device can be disposed and replaced with a low-cost replacement).