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 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for monitoring a condition of a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 first conductive structure and a second conductive structure configured to be disposed above the tissue, both the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the apparatus to stretching or torsion of the tissue to thereby maintain the apparatus in contact with the tissue, and wherein the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are disposed substantially parallel to each other;   a first brace structure and a second brace structure, each brace structure disposed substantially perpendicularly to the orientation of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure, the first brace structure being in electrical communication with the first conductive structure and the second brace structure being in electrical communication with the second conductive structure, wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure aid in maintaining a separation between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure; and   a non-conductive spacer structure that is physically coupled at each end to a portion of each of the first brace structure and the second brace structure, such that a substantially uniform separation is maintained between the first brace structure and the second brace structure, and a substantially uniform form factor is maintained during deformation of the apparatus, so as to provide the apparatus with a stretchable structure, wherein a measurement performed by applying a potential across the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the condition of the tissue is a hydration state of the tissue, a volume of sweat lost, a mechanical property of the tissue, or a disease state of the tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure has a zig-zag conformation, a serpentine configuration, or a rippled configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first brace structure and the second brace structure is formed from a conductive material, and wherein the first brace structure electrically links the first conductive structure to an external circuit, and the second brace structure electrically links the second conductive structure to the external circuit. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the spacer structure is disposed substantially parallel to a principal direction of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first brace structure and the second brace structure is in electrical communication with at least one electrical contact of the apparatus, and wherein the at least one electrical contact is in electrical communication with at least one of a power source, a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a wireless transceiver, or a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of cross-link structures disposed between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure, each cross-link structure of the plurality of cross-link structures being formed from a dielectric material. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over at least a portion of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein portions of the encapsulation layer comprise an adhesive, and wherein the adhesive is configured to attach the portions of the encapsulation layer to the tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a plurality of cross-link structures disposed between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure, each cross-link structure of the plurality of cross-link structures being formed from the same material as the encapsulation layer. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the encapsulation layer is a polymer. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the polymer is a polyimide. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a backing layer in physical communication with at least a portion of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structures, wherein the backing layer is a polymer. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising an ultrasound apparatus, and wherein the ultrasound apparatus provides a measure of a condition of the tissue. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the ultrasound apparatus comprises:
 an ultrasound generator configured to be disposed proximate to a first portion of the tissue of interest, wherein the ultrasound generator comprises a piezoelectric crystal, wherein the ultrasound generator directs ultrasound waves at a portion of the tissue; and   an ultrasound receiver configured to be disposed proximate to a second portion of the tissue of interest that is different from the first portion,   wherein the ultrasound receiver provides a measure of ultrasound waves arriving at the second portion of the tissue, and   wherein the measure of ultrasound waves arriving at the second portion of the tissue provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , in combination with
 at least one other component,   wherein the at least one other component is at least one of a battery, a transmitter, a transceiver, a memory, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, a processing unit, an analog sensing block, a UVA sensor, a UVB sensor, or a temperature sensor.   
     
     
         39 . A method for monitoring a condition of a tissue, the method comprising:
 securing an apparatus to the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a first conductive structure and a second conductive structure configured to be disposed above the tissue, both the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure having a non-linear configuration that facilitates flexibility of the apparatus to stretching or torsion of the tissue, and wherein the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are disposed substantially parallel to each other; 
 a first brace structure and a second brace structure, each brace structure disposed substantially perpendicularly to the orientation of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure, the first brace structure being in electrical communication with the first conductive structure and the second brace structure being in electrical communication with the second conductive structure, wherein the first brace structure and the second brace structure aid in maintaining a separation between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure; and 
 a non-conductive spacer structure that is physically coupled at each end to a portion of each of the first brace structure and the second brace structure, such that a substantially uniform separation is maintained between the first brace structure and the second brace structure, and a substantially uniform form factor is maintained during deformation of the apparatus, so as to provide the apparatus with a stretchable structure; 
   performing a measurement by applying a potential across the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure to generate data related to the condition of the tissue; and   analyzing the data using at least one processor unit, wherein the analysis provides an indication of the condition of the tissue.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the analyzing the data comprises applying an effective circuit model to the data, and wherein a value of a parameter of the model provides the indication of the condition of the tissue. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the analyzing the data comprises comparing the data to a calibration standard, and wherein the comparing provides the indication of the condition of the tissue. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the calibration standard comprises a correlation between values of measurement and the indication of the condition of the tissue. 
     
     
         43 - 85 . (canceled)