# US 12,178,698 B2 · Artificial skin

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- Number: US 12,178,698 B2
- Document ID: US12178698B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/252,554
- Filed: 2019-07-05
- Published: 2021-09-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy
- Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy
- Inventors: Shreyas Shah; Mingde Zheng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178698B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/412: {Detecting or monitoring sepsis}
- A61F 2/105: {Skin implants, e.g. artificial skin}
- A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61B 5/14539: {for measuring pH}
- A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/4875: {Hydration status, fluid retention of the body}
- A61F 2250/0097: Visible markings, e.g. indicia
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

The application relates to an apparatus which comprises at least one portion of artificial skin (103) and a plurality of sensors (105) dispersed within the at least one portion of artificial skin (103). The plurality of sensors (105) have at least one physical property which is configured to be modified when the plurality of sensors (105) are exposed to a parameter such that the modification of the physical property can be detected by an external detector (211). The application also relates to detection systems comprising such apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
at least one portion of artificial skin;
a plurality of light-detectable sensors dispersed within the at least one portion of artificial skin;
wherein types of light-detectable sensors of the plurality of light-detectable sensors have at least one physical property which is configured to be modified when the types of light-detectable sensors are exposed to a parameter such that the modification of the physical property can be detected by an external detector, wherein the types of light-detectable sensors comprise defined edges having contrast with the artificial skin and the at least one physical property configured to be modified is a degradation of the defined edges; and
wherein the types of light-detectable sensors are configured to provide an output optical signal that is dependent upon the degradation of the defined edges.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a protective surface provided overlaying the at least one portion of artificial skin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protective surface provides an interface between the plurality of light-detectable sensors and the external detector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of artificial skin is configured to integrate with the skin of a subject.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of artificial skin is configured to cover a wound of a subject.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of artificial skin is configured to conform to the shape of a subject's damaged skin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of artificial skin comprises a matrix of skin tissue which is configured to support the plurality of light-detectable sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the types of light-detectable sensors comprise functionalized particles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least one of the functionalized particles is configured to bind to a chemical entity so that the binding modifies a physical property of the functionalized particle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the functionalized particles have a diameter which is less than 100 micrometers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of different types of sensors where the different types of sensors are configured to detect different parameters and/or the different types of sensors have different shapes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parameter that is detected by the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of: glucose levels, bacteria, temperature, pH level, chemical entity, moisture, or oxygenation levels.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the physical property of the types of light-detectable sensors that is modified comprises a size of the sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the external detector comprises an optical coherence tomography detector.