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US 2023/0210447 A1Published application
Capacitive sweat rate sensor
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsPeter Charles SEARSON, Dong-Hoon CHOI, Dinh-Tuan PHAN
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Abstract
A sweat sensor includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are parallel with one another. The sweat sensor also includes a channel disposed between the first and second conductors. The channel is configured to receive a sample of sweat. A measure of capacitance between the first and second conductors changes based at least partially upon a volume of the sweat in the channel.
Claims20
A sweat sensor, comprising:
- a first conductor;
- a second conductor, wherein the first and second conductors are parallel with one another;
- and
- a channel disposed between the first and second conductors, wherein the channel is configured to receive a sample of sweat, and wherein a measure of capacitance between the first and second conductors changes based at least partially upon a volume of the sweat in the channel.
1 more element
A sweat sensor, comprising
- a bottom insulating layer defining an inlet that is configured to receive sweat;
- a bottom plate positioned above the bottom insulating layer;
- a supporting layer positioned above the bottom plate, wherein the supporting layer defines a channel that is in fluid communication with the inlet;
- a top plate positioned above the supporting layer, wherein the bottom plate and the top plate comprise a conductive material, and wherein the bottom plate and the top plate are parallel with one another;
- a top insulating layer defining an outlet that is in fluid communication with the channel, wherein the bottom insulating layer and the top insulating layer comprise a non-conductive material;
- a first electrode positioned at least partially within the supporting layer, wherein the first electrode is electrically-connected to the bottom plate, and wherein the first electrode is electrically-isolated from the top plate;
- and
- a circuit configured to:
- measure a capacitance between the bottom plate and the top plate;
- and
- determine a rate of the sweat based at least partially upon the capacitance.
8 more elements
A sweat sensor, comprising
- a bottom insulating layer configured to be placed in contact with a user's skin, wherein the bottom insulating layer defines an inlet that is configured to receive sweat from the user's skin;
- a bottom plate positioned above the bottom insulating layer;
- a supporting layer positioned above the bottom plate, wherein the supporting layer defines a channel that is configured to receive the sweat from the inlet;
- a top plate positioned above the supporting layer, wherein the bottom plate and the top plate comprise a conductive material, and wherein the bottom plate and the top plate are parallel with one another;
- a top insulating layer defining an outlet that is configured to receive the sweat from the channel, wherein the bottom insulating layer and the top insulating layer comprise a non-conductive material;
- a first electrode positioned at least partially within the supporting layer, wherein the first electrode is electrically-connected to one of the bottom plate and the top plate, and wherein the first electrode is electrically-isolated from the other of the bottom plate and the top plate;
- a second electrode positioned at least partially within the supporting layer;
- a third electrode positioned at least partially within the supporting layer, wherein the second and third electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of the channel and configured to be contacted by the sweat in the channel;
- and
- a circuit configured to:
- measure a capacitance between the bottom plate and the top plate;
- determine a rate of the sweat based at least partially upon the capacitance;
- measure an impedance between the second and third electrodes;
- and
- determine a conductivity of the sweat based at least partially upon the impedance.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.