Epidermal Devices for Analysis of Temperature and Thermal Transport Characteristics

A method of non-invasively monitoring a blood flow parameter, the method comprising:

• contacting a thermal flow device to a surface of skin, the thermal flow device comprising a flexible substrate, a thermal actuator and a plurality of thermal sensors, wherein the thermal sensors are arranged at distinct angular locations and at least two distinct distances relative to a center of the thermal actuator;
• activating the thermal actuator;
• during the activation, recording temperature data from one or more of the thermal sensors;
• and
• determining a blood flow parameter based at least in part on the temperature data.

A system for non-invasively monitoring a blood flow parameter, the system comprising:

• a thermal flow device configured to be applied to the surface of skin, the thermal flow device comprising a flexible substrate, a thermal actuator, a first temperature sensor co-located with the thermal actuator and second temperature sensor spaced apart from the thermal actuator;
• and
• a computing device, the computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:
• activate the thermal actuator;
• during the activation, record temperature data from one or more of the thermal sensors;
• and
• determine a blood flow parameter based at least in part on the temperature data.