# US 11,079,340 B2 · Methods of monitoring wetness utilizing a resonant circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,340 B2 - Document ID: US11079340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/976,451 - Filed: 2015-12-21 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-23 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: G. Marco Bommarito; Justin M. Johnson; Kevin D. Landgrebe; Xin X. Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079340B2 ## CPC - G01N 22/04: Investigating moisture content - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Methods that include: subjecting an article including a moisture sensor to steam sterilization in a steam sterilizer to produce a sterilized article, the moisture sensor having a moisture absorbing layer and a resonant circuit; subjecting the sterilized article to drying; and interrogating the resonant circuit, wherein the interrogation is affected by an amount of water present in the moisture absorbing layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: (a) subjecting an article comprising a moisture sensor to a sterilization process to produce a sterilized article, the sterilization process is a steam sterilization process, the moisture sensor comprising a moisture absorbing layer and a resonant circuit; (al) subjecting the sterilized article to a first drying step after subjecting the article to the sterilization process and before interrogating the resonant circuit; (b) conducting a first interrogation step comprising interrogating the resonant circuit, wherein the interrogating is affected by an amount of moisture present in the moisture absorbing layer; and (c) subjecting the sterilized article to a second drying step after interrogating the resonant circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the interrogating comprises use of a reader comprising a radio frequency source, an analyzer, and a reader inductive element that serves as an antenna to transmit a radio frequency signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the interrogating comprises use of a reader configured to transmit a reader radio frequency signal to the resonant circuit of the moisture sensor at or near the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, and wherein the reader is further configured to receive a moisture sensor signal transmitted by the resonant circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the interrogating comprises: (i) transmitting a reader radio frequency signal from a reader to the resonant circuit of the moisture sensor at or near the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to produce a moisture sensor signal; (ii) receiving, with the reader, a moisture sensor signal from the moisture sensor and generating, with the reader, an indication signal based on the moisture sensor signal received from the resonant circuit; and (iii) determining the amount of moisture present within the moisture absorbing layer based on the signal generated by the reader. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the moisture sensor signal is selected from a radio frequency signal and a non-signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the reader receives a non-signal from the resonant circuit if the article is not dry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the reader receives a non-signal from the resonant circuit if the relative humidity in the article is greater than about 60%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: (d) conducting a second interrogation step comprising interrogating the resonant circuit after the second drying step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the interrogation step or steps is reported to a processor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the article comprises the moisture sensor, at least one article to be sterilized and a wrap, the wrap having an outer surface and an inner surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the moisture sensor is located on an inside surface of the wrap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the moisture sensor is located on an outside surface of the wrap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the article further comprises a tray and the moisture sensor is disposed on the tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the moisture absorbing layer comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the polymeric material comprises a hydrogel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor further comprises an insulating layer positioned between the resonant circuit and the moisture absorbing layer.