US 11,883,146 B1Granted

Methods and devices for selecting miniaturized impedance electrodes of miniaturized impedance sensors

AssigneeBrigham Young University

InventorsRobert Davis, Nick Morrill, David Miller

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Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and/or device to select a depth within a body part to measure an impedance. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include: a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user; a user interface coupled to the band; a miniaturized impedance sensor embedded in the band and positioned in the band to be pressed against the body part when the user wears the band, the miniaturized impedance sensor including an array of miniaturized electrodes, where the array of miniaturized electrodes is configured to measure an impedance at a depth within the body part and the depth corresponds to a subdermal feature within the body part; a processing device coupled to the band, where the processing device is configured to select the depth within the body part to measure an impedance; and an electrical circuit embedded in the band.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user, the body part comprising:
a first subdermal feature at a first depth within the body part;
a second subdermal feature at a second depth within the body part deeper than the first depth, wherein the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature are positioned in a same region of the body part;
and
a miniaturized impedance sensor embedded in the band and positioned in the band to be pressed against the same region of the body part having the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature as the user wears the band, the miniaturized impedance sensor comprising:
a first miniaturized electrode configured in the band to transmit an electronic signal through the body part as the user wears the band, wherein the first miniaturized electrode is configured to transmit the electronic signal at a first power level or a second power level;
a second miniaturized electrode spaced in the band from the first miniaturized electrode at a first distance, wherein the first distance is configured so that:
the second miniaturized electrode receives the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the first subdermal feature when the user wears the band;
and
the electronic signal bypasses the second subdermal feature when it is received by the second miniaturized electrode;
wherein the first distance is less than a first threshold distance to prevent the electronic signal from penetrating into the body part to the second depth of the second subdermal feature;
and
a third miniaturized electrode spaced from the first miniaturized electrode at a second distance, wherein:
the second distance is greater than the first distance;
and
the third miniaturized electrode is configured to receive the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the second subdermal feature when the user wears the band;
wherein the miniaturized impedance sensor comprises at least one insulating layer, a conductive layer, a catalyst layer, and an interstitial filler, and wherein the first, second and third miniaturized electrodes are configured in parallel rows;
and
wherein the interstitial filler includes a plurality of interstitial wells between the parallel rows of miniaturized electrodes configured to:
be flush with a surface of the miniaturized impedance sensor to form a continuous surface;
and
allow a dermal feature to flex into the plurality of interstitial wells.

19 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user, the body part comprising:
a first subdermal feature at a first depth within the body part;
a second subdermal feature at a second depth within the body part deeper than the first depth, wherein the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature are positioned in a same region of the body part;
a miniaturized impedance sensor embedded in the band and positioned in the band to be pressed against the same region of the body part having the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature as the user wears the band, the miniaturized impedance sensor comprising:
a first miniaturized electrode configured in the band to transmit an electronic signal through the body part as the user wears the band, wherein the first miniaturized electrode is configured to transmit the electronic signal at a first power level or a second power level;
a second miniaturized electrode spaced in the band from the first miniaturized electrode at a first distance, wherein the first distance is configured so that:
the second miniaturized electrode receives the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the first subdermal feature when the user wears the band;
and
the electronic signal bypasses the second subdermal feature when it is received by the second miniaturized electrode;
wherein the first distance is less than a first threshold distance to prevent the electronic signal from penetrating into the body part to the second depth of the second subdermal feature;
and
a third miniaturized electrode spaced from the first miniaturized electrode at a second distance, wherein:
the second distance is greater than the first distance;
and
the third miniaturized electrode is configured to receive the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the second subdermal feature when the user wears the band;
and
a processing device coupled to the band and configured to select the first depth of the first subdermal feature or the second depth of the second subdermal feature, wherein the first depth is selected to correspond to the first subdermal feature or the second depth is selected to correspond to the second subdermal feature within the body part based on the first distance or the second distance between the first miniaturized electrode and the second miniaturized electrode or the third miniaturized electrode,
wherein the miniaturized impedance sensor comprises at least one insulating layer, a conductive layer, a catalyst layer, and an interstitial filler, and wherein the first, second and third miniaturized electrodes are configured in parallel rows;
and
wherein the interstitial filler includes a plurality of wells between the parallel rows of miniaturized electrodes configured to:
be flush with a surface of the miniaturized impedance sensor to form a continuous surface, and
allow a dermal feature to flex into the plurality of wells.

19 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user;
and
a miniaturized impedance sensor embedded in the band and positioned in the band to be pressed against a region of the body part having a first subdermal feature and a second subdermal feature as the user wears the band, the miniaturized impedance sensor comprising an array of miniaturized electrodes at corresponding locations on the band, wherein the array of miniaturized electrodes is configured to transmit an electrical signal through the body part as the user wears the band, each of the array of miniaturized electrodes positioned on the band at the locations to receive the electrical signal and correspond to the first and second subdermal features of the body part at corresponding depths within the body part,
wherein the miniaturized impedance sensor comprises at least one insulating layer, a conductive layer, a catalyst layer and an interstitial filler;
and wherein said miniaturized electrodes are configured in parallel rows;
and
wherein the interstitial filler includes a plurality of wells between the parallel rows of miniaturized electrodes configured to:
be flush with a surface of the miniaturized impedance sensor to form a continuous surface, and
allow a dermal feature to flex into the plurality of wells.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.