Flexible wireless patch for physiological monitoring and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Provided herein is an integrated wireless patch comprising a contact layer, an electronics layer, and a battery layer. The contact layer is a substrate having gel cutouts. The electronics layer can be folded into contact with the contact layer. The battery layer can be folded into contact with the electronic layer. Further provided herein is a method of manufacturing a wireless integrated patch comprising folding a substrate comprising at least one cutout, at least one contact disk in communication with a surface of a patient through the cutout, and battery terminals, wherein the at least one cutout, the at least on contact, and the battery terminals are adaptable to be located in different layers after the substrate is folded.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An integrated wireless patch which comprises:
 a contact layer comprising a substrate;   an electronic layer folded into contact with the contact layer; and   a battery layer folded into contact with the electronic layer.   
     
     
         2 . The patch of  claim 1  wherein the battery layer comprises battery terminal tabs. 
     
     
         3 . The patch of  claim 1  wherein the battery layer further comprises at least one antenna. 
     
     
         4 . The patch of  claim 1  wherein the patch is adaptable to be assembled by positioning the electronic layer between the contact layer and the battery layer. 
     
     
         5 . The patch of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive layer adaptable to be located between the contact layer and the electronic layer. 
     
     
         6 . The patch of  claim 1  further comprising a battery. 
     
     
         7 . The patch of  claim 1  wherein the contact layer comprises at least one contact adaptable to be in communication with a surface of a patient. 
     
     
         8 . The patch of  claim 7  wherein the contact layer further comprises an adhesive surround positioned around the contact. 
     
     
         9 . The patch of  claim 1  further comprising at least one antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The patch of  claim 1  further comprising at least one application-specific integrated circuit on the electronic layer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a wireless integrated patch comprising:
 folding a substrate comprising at least one cutout, at least one contact disk in communication with a surface of a patient through the cutout, and battery terminals, wherein the at least one cutout, the at least on contact, and the battery terminals are adaptable to be located in different layers after the substrate is folded.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of attaching a battery to the battery terminals. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of creating a cutout in the substrate prior to the folding step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step fabricating at least one contact on the substrate prior to the folding step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of attaching an ASIC to the substrate and further comprising the step of connecting the at least one contact to the ASIC with a trace. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of connecting an antenna to the ASIC. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of inserting an adhesive spacer between two layers of the folded substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the adhesive spacer is inserted in between the cutout layer and the contact layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of applying gel to the cutout area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of attaching an adhesive washer around the cutout. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of cutting spiral cuts, the spiral cuts adaptable to surround the cutout. 
     
     
         22 . A wireless integrated patch produced according to the method of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising more than one cutout and more than one contact.