Skin patches for sensing or affecting a body parameter
AssigneeThe Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Resea rch
InventorsBRIAN R. DEARDEN, JOHN G. PETROVICH
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Abstract
Skin patch sensors for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters, with alignment, positioning and attachment using magnets. The repeated use of releasable adhesive layers to retain skin patch sensors on skin can cause skin irritation, which can be reduced by rotating a skin patch between attachment times around a magnetically coupled pivot point. Skin patch sensors can be configured with internal coils to inductively couple to external power transmitting and communications coils with solenoids in anti-Helmholtz configurations.
Claims22
A skin patch for releasable attachment to a skin location comprising:
- a sensor for sensing a body parameter and/or a transducer for affecting a body parameter;
- a communications system coupled to the sensor and/or the transducer;
- and
- an antenna coupled to the communications system for receiving wireless power transmissions for powering the skin patch;
- wherein the antenna comprises a coil configured to inductively couple with an external plurality of solenoids in an anti-Helmholtz configuration, the antenna providing at least one of the following:
- transmitting a wireless data signal corresponding to the sensed body parameter;
- and/or
- receiving wireless commands to affect the body parameter from an external controller.
A skin patch for multiple releasable attachments to a skin location comprising:
- a sensor for sensing a body parameter and/or a transducer for affecting a body parameter;
- a communications system coupled to the sensor and/or transducer;
- an antenna coupled to the communications system for providing at least one of the following:
- transmitting a wireless data signal corresponding to the sensed body parameter;
- and/or
- receiving commands from an external controller;
- and/or
- a power supply for powering the skin patch;
- at least one magnet configured to be positioned in the skin patch above an alignment area within the skin location;
- and
- at least one implantable ferromagnetic element configured for subcutaneous implantation below the alignment area within the skin location and for magnetic coupling with the magnet;
- and
- optionally the at least one implantable electromagnetic element comprises a magnet.
A method for multiple releasable attachments of a skin patch to a skin location, comprising:
- Implanting subcutaneously a ferromagnetic element at a skin location;
- and
- optionally the implantable ferromagnetic element is a magnet;
- providing a skin patch for sensing and/or affecting a body parameter, the skin patch comprising a magnet configured to align and magnetically couple to the implanted element;
- attaching a first substrate to the skin patch;
- wherein the first substrate has first and second opposite facing surfaces, the first substrate comprising:
- an adhesive coating on the first layer of the first substrate for releasable attachment to the skin patch;
- and
- an adhesive coating on the second layer of the first substrate for releasable attachment to the skin location;
- positioning the skin patch at the skin location with alignment and magnetic coupling between the magnet and the implanted ferromagnetic element;
- attaching the skin patch to the skin location using the first substrate;
- sensing a body parameter and/or affecting a body parameter;
- detaching the skin patch from the skin location;
- detaching the first substrate from the skin patch;
- attaching a second substrate to the skin patch;
- wherein the second substrate has first and second opposite facing surfaces, the second substrate comprising:
- an adhesive coating on the first layer of the second substrate for releasable attachment to the skin patch;
- and
- an adhesive coating on the second layer of the second substrate for releasable attachment to the skin location;
- positioning the skin patch at the skin location with alignment and magnetic coupling between the magnet and the implanted ferromagnetic element;
- rotating the skin patch using the implanted ferromagnetic element as a pivot point;
- and
- attaching the skin patch to the skin location using the second substrate.
A wireless power transfer system comprising:
- a wireless power transmitting system comprising:
- a coil driver generating an alternating current;
- first and second solenoids coupled to the coil driver in an anti-Helmholtz configuration;
- a wireless power receiving system positioned adjacent to the first and second solenoids, comprising:
- a coil configured for inductive coupling to the first and second solenoids for receiving wireless power transmissions;
- a power supply coupled to the coil;
- and
- electronic systems coupled to and powered by the power supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.