Flexible electrically conductive nanotube sensor for elastomeric devices
Assignee7-Sigma, Inc.
InventorsWade R. Eichhorn, Richard Duda, Kristian G. Wyrobek, Ahmet Serdar Sezen
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Abstract
A flexible substrate has a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the substrate. The sensor may have an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path. Balloons and flexible elements used in medical procedures are particularly useful.
Claims20
A flexible substrate having a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the substrate, wherein:
- the sensor comprises an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path;
- and
- the major surface comprises an elastomeric composition having a first modulus of elasticity and the elastic body of the sensor has a second modulus of elasticity and wherein the first modulus of elasticity is within 40% of the second modulus of elasticity.
A method of detecting stress, pressure or dimensional changes within an environment comprising positioning within the environment a substrate having a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the substrate, the sensor comprises an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path;
- applying a current across the sensor through one of the at least two electrodes;
- determining changes in the current or voltage;
- and
- providing signals indicating changes in the current to a processor;
- and
- the processor executing code to correlate determined changes in the current to stress, pressure or dimensional changes in the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.