Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
Small. 2018 Nov;14(47):e1803192. doi: 10.1002/smll.201803192. Epub 2018 Oct 7.
Precise, quantitative measurements of the thermal properties of human skin can yield insights into thermoregulatory function, hydration, blood perfusion, wound healing, and other parameters of clinical interest. The need for wired power supply systems and data communication hardware limits, however, practical applicability of existing devices designed for measurements of this type. Here, a set of advanced materials, mechanics designs, integration schemes, and wireless circuits is reported as the basis for wireless, battery-free sensors that softly interface to the skin to enable precise measurements of its temperature and thermal transport properties. Calibration processes connect these parameters to the hydration state of the skin, the dynamics of near-surface flow through blood vessels and implanted catheters, and to recovery processes following trauma. Systematic engineering studies yield quantitative metrics in precision and reliability in real-world conditions. Evaluations on five human subjects demonstrate the capabilities in measurements of skin hydration and injury, including examples of continuous wear and monitoring over a period of 1 week, without disrupting natural daily activities.
精确、定量的人体皮肤热物性测量可以深入了解体温调节功能、皮肤水分、血液灌注、伤口愈合和其他临床相关参数。然而，现有的此类测量设备受到有线电源供应系统和数据通信硬件的限制，实际应用受到限制。在这里，我们报告了一组先进的材料、力学设计、集成方案和无线电路，这些都是无线、无电池传感器的基础，这些传感器可以与皮肤软接触，从而实现皮肤温度和热传输特性的精确测量。校准过程将这些参数与皮肤的水分状态、血管和植入导管附近表面流动的动力学以及创伤后的恢复过程联系起来。系统的工程研究为实际条件下的精度和可靠性提供了定量指标。对五名人类受试者的评估展示了皮肤水分和损伤测量的能力，包括连续佩戴和监测一周的例子，且不会干扰自然的日常活动。
