Electronics for detection of a condition of tissue

Abstract

Apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a tissue based on a measurement of an electrical property of the tissue. In an example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least two conductive structures, each having a non-linear configuration, where the at least two conductive structures are disposed substantially parallel to each other. In another example, the electrical property of the tissue is performed using an apparatus disposed above the tissue, where the apparatus includes at least one inductor structure.

1 - 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . A system for monitoring a condition of a tissue, the system comprising:
 an ultrasound generator disposed on a first flexible, stretchable substrate, the ultrasound generator being disposed proximate a first portion of the tissue and being configured to generate an ultrasound wave and direct the ultrasound wave into the first portion of the tissue;   an ultrasound receiver disposed on a second flexible, stretchable substrate, the ultrasound receiver being disposed proximate a second portion of the tissue and being configured to detect the ultrasound wave at the second portion of the tissue; and   at least one processor disposed on either the first or the second substrate, the at least one processor being configured to determine a propagation velocity of the ultrasound wave through the tissue and to provide a measure of a hydration level of the tissue based on the propagation velocity of the ultrasound wave through the tissue.   
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the ultrasound generator includes a piezoelectric element configured to generate the ultrasound waves and a focusing element to direct the ultrasound waves into the first portion of the tissue. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric crystal or a piezoelectric disc actuator. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein the piezoelectric element changes shape responsive to a changing voltage being applied thereto. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the measure of the hydration level of the tissue is determined based at least on a linear proportionality between the propagation velocity of the ultrasound waves through the tissue and the hydration level of the tissue. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 86 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure a composition of a body fluid sample collected from the tissue. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the sensor measures a conductivity of the body fluid sample. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the sensor measures a concentration of an ion in the body fluid sample. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  93 , wherein the ion includes at least one of sodium, potassium, or calcium. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the tissue is bicep tissue or thigh tissue of a person. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the ultrasound generator, the ultrasound receiver, and the at least one processor are disposed within a band configured to be disposed on the bicep tissue or the thigh tissue of the person. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the ultrasound generator, the ultrasound receiver, and the at least one processor are disposed on a garment configured to be worn by the person. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the ultrasound wave is a first ultrasound wave, the system further comprising:
 a second ultrasound generator disposed proximate a third portion of the tissue and configured to generate a second ultrasound wave; and   a second ultrasound receiver disposed proximate a fourth portion of the tissue and configured to detect the second ultrasound wave;   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a propagation velocity of the second ultrasound wave through the tissue and to determine an average propagation velocity based on the propagation velocity of the first ultrasound wave and the propagation velocity of the second ultrasound wave, the at least one processor being further configured to determine the hydration level of the tissue based on the average propagation velocity.   
     
     
         99 . A method of determining a hydration level of a tissue, the method comprising:
 generating an ultrasound wave;   directing the ultrasound wave into a first portion of the tissue at a first time;   detecting the ultrasound wave at a second portion of the tissue at a second time;   determining a propagation velocity of the ultrasound wave through the tissue based on (i) a difference between the first time and the second time and (ii) a distance between the first portion of tissue and the second portion of tissue; and   determining the hydration level of the tissue based at least on the propagation velocity of the ultrasound wave through the tissue.   
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the one or more ultrasound waves are generated by applying a changing voltage to a piezoelectric element, thereby causing the piezoelectric element to repeatedly change shape. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the propagation velocity of the one or more ultrasound waves is linearly proportional to the hydration level of tissue 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the ultrasound wave is a first ultrasound wave, the method further comprising:
 generating a second ultrasound wave;   directed the second ultrasound wave into a third portion of the tissue at a third time;   detecting the ultrasound wave at a fourth portion of the tissue at a fourth time;   determining a propagation velocity of the second ultrasound wave through the tissue based on (i) a difference between the third time and the fourth time and (ii) a distance between the third portion of the tissue and the fourth portion of the tissue;   determining an average propagation velocity based on the propagation velocity of the first ultrasound wave and the propagation velocity of the second ultrasound wave;   determining the hydration level of the tissue based at least on the average propagation velocity.   
     
     
         103 . A system for analyzing tissue, comprising:
 an ultrasound generator disposed proximate a first portion of the tissue, the ultrasound generator configured to generate ultrasound waves and direct the generated ultrasound waves into the first portion of the tissue;   an ultrasound receiver disposed proximate a second portion of the tissue, the ultrasound receiver configured to detect the ultrasound waves at the second portion of the tissue;   at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to determine a propagation velocity of the ultrasound waves through the tissue and to provide a measure of a hydration level of the tissue based on the propagation velocity of the ultrasound waves; and   a sensor configured to measure a concentration of an ion in a body fluid sample collected from the tissue, the ion including at least one of sodium, potassium, or calcium.