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US 11,375,949 B2Granted
Hydration state indicator
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsNicolaas Lambert, Denny Mathew, Marcel Cornelis Dirkes, Rick Bezemer
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Abstract
There is provided a hydration state indicator. The hydration state indicator comprises a watertight shell; a semi-permeable membrane configured to permit the passage of water molecules and to block the passage of molecules of at least one solute; a water-absorbent indicator layer enclosed by the shell and the membrane; and output means configured to provide an output. The water-absorbent indicator layer has a predetermined osmotic strength. The volume of at least one part of the indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the indicator layer. The output is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the indicator layer.
Claims12
A hydration state indicator comprising:
- a watertight shell;
- a semi-permeable membrane configured to permit the passage of water molecules and to block the passage of molecules of at least one solute;
- a water-absorbent indicator layer enclosed by the shell and the membrane,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer has a predetermined osmotic strength, wherein the predetermined osmotic strength is substantially equal to the osmotic strength of healthy human tissue,
- wherein the volume a first region of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer provides a visual indication of hydration state which changes dynamically with the volume or water content of at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the volume of a second region of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the water-absorbent indicator layer to a different degree than the first region wherein the first region and the second region are disposed on the same layer of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein an optical property of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the output means comprises a transparent window provided in the shell, and
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer comprises a photonic colloidal crystal in which particles of a first material are suspended in a second material, wherein the second material is water-absorbent, and wherein the separation between the particles of the first material is variable in dependence on the water content of the second material;
- and
- output means configured to provide an output which is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein at least one of the shell, a layer between the water-absorbent indicator layer and the shell, and an external surface of the shell comprise a light-diffusing material.
10 more elements
A hydration state indicator comprising:
- a watertight shell;
- a semi-permeable membrane configured to permit the passage of water molecules and to block the passage of molecules of at least one solute;
- a water-absorbent indicator layer enclosed by the shell and the membrane,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer has a predetermined osmotic strength,
- wherein the predetermined osmotic strength is substantially equal to the osmotic strength of healthy human tissue,
- wherein the volume of at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein an electrical property of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer provides an indication of hydration state which changes dynamically with the volume or water content of at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein an optical property of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the output means comprises a transparent window provided in the shell, and
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer comprises a photonic colloidal crystal in which particles of a first material are suspended in a second material, wherein the second material is water-absorbent, and wherein the separation between the particles of the first material is variable in dependence on the water content of the second material;
- and
- output means configured to provide an output which is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer, wherein the output means comprises one or more of:
- a display directly secured to an outer surface of the shell and electrically connected to the water-absorbent indicator layer;
- a vibrator directly secured to the outer surface of the shell and electrically connected to the water-absorbent indicator layer;
- and
- a speaker directly secured to the outer surface of the shell and electrically connected to the water-absorbent indicator layer.
14 more elements
A hydration state indicator comprising:
- a watertight shell;
- a semi-permeable membrane configured to permit the passage of water molecules and to block the passage of molecules of at least one solute;
- a water-absorbent indicator layer enclosed by the shell and the membrane,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer has a predetermined osmotic strength,
- wherein the predetermined osmotic strength is substantially equal to the osmotic strength of healthy human tissue,
- wherein the volume a first region of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein an optical property of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer provides a visual indication which changes dynamically with the volume or water content of at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer comprises a dichroic filter;
- and wherein the volume of a second region of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the water content of the water-absorbent indicator layer to a different degree than the first region wherein the first region and the second region are disposed on the same layer of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein an optical property of the water-absorbent indicator layer is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer,
- wherein the output means comprises a transparent window provided in the shell, and
- wherein the water-absorbent indicator layer comprises a photonic colloidal crystal in which particles of a first material are suspended in a second material, wherein the second material is water-absorbent, and wherein the separation between the particles of the first material is variable in dependence on the water content of the second material;
- and
- output means configured to provide an output which is variable in dependence on the volume of the at least one part of the water-absorbent indicator layer, wherein the output means comprises a transparent window provided in the shell,
- wherein at least one of the shell, a layer provided between the water-absorbent indicator layer and the shell, and an external surface of the shell, comprise a light-diffusing material.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.