Soft capacitive pressure sensors

US11839453B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Michelle Khine · Irvine, US
• Joshua Kim · Irvine, US
• Gregory Washington · Irvine, US
• Theron Frederick Lee Smith · Irvine, US
• Floranne Tavailau Ellington · Irvine, US
• Joseph Garcia · Spokane, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 8, 2019
• Grant date: Dec 12, 2023
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2562/125
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Soft capacitive pressure sensors for continuous wearable health monitoring applications are described herein. Wrinkled gold thin films on elastomeric substrates are used as robust parallel plate electrodes to create a robust integration with the polymer, allowing repeated normal force to deform the thin film without failure. By incorporating micro-ridged structures that support the counter electrodes to create air cavities within the elastomeric dielectric layer, pressure sensitivity is further increased. The pressure sensors are configured to measure human physiological signals such as pressure exerted from a radial pulse on a skin's surface. The radial pulse pressure detected by the sensor can be correlated to an arterial blood pressure. Calibration of said pressure sensors using a neural network allows for determination of absolute blood pressure.