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US 2026/0294392 A1Published application
Systems and methods for on-person wearable electronic devices
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsXuanhe ZHAO, Xiaoyu CHEN, Chonghe WANG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for on-person wearable electronic devices configured for extended periods of wear. A couplant may be provided that is made of a soft anti-dehydrating, and hydrogel-elastomer hybrid material. A bioadhesive may connect the couplant the electronic devices and the person. The couplant may serve as a coupling and transmission for information to or from the electronic device.
Claims24
A system for extended ultrasound imaging of a subject, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe formed of a plurality of transducers arranged across a plane;
- and
- an acoustically transmissible couplant, comprising:
- an elastomer membrane extending across and coupled to the plane of the ultrasound probe;
- hydrogel arranged within the elastomer membrane configured to conform to a surface of the subject, wherein the hydrogel includes polymer networks infiltrated with water containing at least one of albumin and its derivatives, gelatin and its derivatives, fibrin and its derivatives, agarose and its derivatives, or κ-Carrageenan and its derivatives;
- and
- a bioadhesive layer configured to provide a fixed coupling to the surface of the subject coupled to the elastomer membrane on a side opposite to the ultrasound probe and configured to couple the elastomer membrane to the subject.
4 more elements
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method for forming an extended ultrasound imaging system of a subject, comprising:
- forming an ultrasound probe with a plurality of transducers arranged across a plane;
- forming an acoustically transmissible couplant, comprising:
- extending an elastomer membrane across and coupled to the plane of the ultrasound probe;
- arranging a hydrogel within the elastomer membrane configured to conform to a surface of the subject, wherein the hydrogel includes polymer networks infiltrated with water containing at least one of albumin and its derivatives, gelatin and its derivatives, fibrin and its derivatives, agarose and its derivatives, or κ-Carrageenan and its derivatives;
- and
- forming a bioadhesive layer configured to provide a fixed coupling to the surface of the subject coupled to the elastomer membrane on a side opposite to the ultrasound probe and configured to couple the elastomer membrane to the subject.
3 more elements
16-27. (canceled)
A system for securing an electronics system to a subject for an extended period, comprising:
- an electronics substrate forming a plane having at least one electronic circuit formed thereon;
- and
- an acoustically transmissible couplant, comprising:
- an elastomer membrane extending across and coupled to the plane of the electronics substrate;
- a hydrogel arranged within the elastomer membrane and configured to conform to a surface of the subject, wherein the hydrogel includes polymer networks infiltrated with water containing at least one of albumin and its derivatives, gelatin and its derivatives, fibrin and its derivatives, agarose and its derivatives, or κ-Carrageenan and its derivatives;
- and
- a bioadhesive layer configured to provide a fixed coupling to the surface of the subject coupled to the elastomer membrane on a side opposite to the plane of the electronics substrate and configured to couple the elastomer membrane to the subject.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an acoustically transmissible couplant, comprising:
- an elastomer membrane forming an enclosure about a void;
- a hydrogel arranged within the void and enclosed by the elastomer membrane and bonded with the elastomer membrane and configured to provide a removable fixed coupling to a surface, wherein the hydrogel includes polymer networks infiltrated with water containing at least one of albumin and its derivatives, gelatin and its derivatives, fibrin and its derivatives, agarose and its derivatives, or κ-Carrageenan and its derivatives;
- and
- a bioadhesive layer configured to provide a fixed coupling to the surface of the subject coupled to the elastomer membrane to couple the elastomer membrane to a subject,
- wherein a total thickness of the elastomer membrane and bioadhesive layer is less than ¼ the ultrasound wavelength of an ultrasound probe based on a center frequency of the ultrasound probe.
3 more elements
32-37. (canceled)
A system for extended ultrasound imaging of a subject, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe formed of a plurality of transducers arranged across a plane;
- and
- an acoustically transmissible couplant, comprising:
- an elastomer membrane extending across and coupled to the plane of the ultrasound probe;
- a hydrogel arranged within the elastomer membrane configured to conform to a surface of the subject, wherein the hydrogel has a shear modulus above 1 kPa below 37° C. and a shear modulus below 1 kPa above 37° C.;
- and
- a bioadhesive layer configured to provide a fixed coupling to the surface of the subject coupled to the elastomer membrane on a side opposite to the ultrasound probe and configured to couple the elastomer membrane to the subject.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.