KR20200004165A - Flexible patch apparatus integrated with multi-sensors for multi-biological signal detection and method for detecting multi-biological signal using the flexible patch apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a flexible patch device based on a multi-sensor for measuring a complex bio-signal and a method for measuring a complex bio-signal using the same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible patch device based on a multi-sensor comprises: a first flexible patch in which a first sensor is integrated; a second flexible patch in which a second sensor is integrated; a first attachment unit attaching the first flexible patch; and a second attachment unit attaching the second flexible patch. Each flexible patch is detachable so that each flexible patch is combined in the flexible patch device by a user selection, and a complex bio-signal desired by a user is measured based on the combination through the user selection.

Description

Flexible patch apparatus integrated with multi-sensors for multi-biological signal detection and method for detecting multi-biological signal using the flexible patch apparatus}

The present invention relates to a biosensor and a biosignal measurement technology using the same.

The paradigm of health care is changing from treatment to prevention. This calls for the creation of new types of business models that combine Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and healthcare and development of source technologies that will lead the fourth industrial revolution. In order to prevent disease, an environment where a user can manage health anytime and anywhere should be prepared. By monitoring two or more health indicators associated with various diseases at the same time, more accurate and efficient health care is possible. In other words, simultaneous detection and continuous monitoring of multiple bio-signals, such as glucose and cholesterol levels, enables efficient health care, disease prevention, and emergency response.

According to an embodiment, a multi-sensor based flexible patch device for measuring a composite biosignal and a composite biosignal measuring method using the same are provided.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a multi-sensor-based flexible patch device includes: a first flexible patch in which a first sensor is integrated, a second flexible patch in which a second sensor is integrated, and a first attachment part for attaching the first flexible patch; And a second attachment portion for attaching a second flexible patch, wherein each flexible patch is detachable and combined in a flexible patch device by user selection, and measures a complex biosignal desired by a user based on a combination through user selection. do.

Each flexible patch may not overlap positions with each other upon attachment. The at least one flexible patch may measure another biosignal as the user is replaced by another type of flexible patch. Each flexible patch is a flexible patch incorporating an embedded electrochemical sensor that measures biochemical signals using body fluids, and a flexible patch incorporating an attached electrochemical sensor that measures biochemical signals using body fluids outside the body. And, it may be any one of the flexible patch integrated the biophysical signal sensor attached to measure the physiological electrical signal.

The multi-sensor based flexible patch device includes a housing for accommodating components in the flexible patch device, a signal receiver for receiving a biosignal having a different electrical physical quantity from each sensor, and a biosignal output from the signal receiver. The apparatus may further include a flexible module made of a flexible material including a signal processor configured to process and convert the biosignal into biometric information according to an electrical physical quantity of the biosignal, and an antenna configured to transmit biometric information to an external device. The antenna may be a low power short range wireless communication antenna. Each flexible patch can be attached to the flexible module via each attachment.

The at least one flexible patch includes a needle inserted into the body, and the multi-sensor based flexible patch device may further include a lancet device having a needle-shaped lancet for guiding the needle's insertion into the body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of measuring a biosignal using a multi-sensor-based flexible patch device, including: attaching a first flexible patch having an integrated first sensor to a flexible patch device by a first attachment part selected by a user; A second flexible patch in which the second sensor is integrated is selected by the user and attached by the second attachment portion into the flexible patch device; a step of assembling the flexible patch device including the attached flexible patches; Measuring the composite bio-signal desired by the user through. Each flexible patch may be attached so that positions do not overlap each other.

In addition to simply manufacturing a single sensor in a patch, and even if a plurality of sensors are integrated, the utility is much lowered from the user's point of view because the sensor is integrated in advance. In contrast, the multi-sensor-based flexible patch device according to an embodiment provides a platform in which a user can select and assemble a flexible patch having a sensor of a desired type. The user can easily measure various types of biometric information as the user can selectively measure only the desired biometric information by selecting and selecting a flexible patch having a necessary sensor in order to increase the ease of use.

Flexible patch device for complex biosignal measurement is expected to contribute significantly to the creation of new industries related to metabolic syndrome management and prevention, health care and disease prevention, smart medical care, healthcare, well-being industry, sports industry.

1 is a view showing the concept of a multi-sensor based flexible patch device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a view showing the appearance of a multi-sensor-based flexible patch device including a needle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a view showing the appearance of the needle-free multi-sensor based flexible patch device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
4 is a view showing a layer-by-layer structure of a multisensor-based flexible patch device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view showing a view from below the flexible patch module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a view showing an exploded view of the flexible patch module of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a view showing a view from below the flexible patch module according to another embodiment of the present invention;
8 is an exploded view of the flexible patch module of FIG. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various forms, and only the embodiments of the present invention make the disclosure of the present invention complete and the general knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

In describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the following terms are used in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Terms are defined in consideration of the function of the may vary depending on the user or operator's intention or custom. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the following may be modified in many different forms, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the following. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art.

1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a multi-sensor based flexible patch device (hereinafter, referred to as a "flexible patch device") according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the flexible patch device 1 is a package structure in which a plurality of removable flexible patches are combined through user selection. Each combined patch is integrated with a sensor for measuring bio signals. Each flexible patch independently measures a biosignal through a sensing electrode of a sensor integrated in each flexible patch. Biosignals include biochemical signals and physiological electrical signals, and measurements include biosignal detection and monitoring. Each flexible patch in the flexible patch device 1 is attached via an attachment portion. The attachment portion may be a biocompatible adhesive material to facilitate attachment of each flexible patch.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible patch device 1 is attached to the skin of the human body. The user can select the desired type of flexible patch among the flexible patches according to the measurement purpose. The user can be a patient or a doctor. The purpose of the measurement may be determined according to a doctor's recommendation or according to the kind of biometric information desired to be obtained. Since each flexible patch has a different shape, it is possible for a user to select an appropriate shape and replace the flexible patch having the same or different types of sensors as needed.

The bio signal measured by the flexible patch device 1 is converted into bio information that can be understood by the user after signal processing. The converted biometric information may be transmitted to the monitoring terminal 2 in use. Signal processing may be performed in a signal processing circuit of the flexible patch device 1 or in an external signal processing device connected to the flexible patch device 1. The monitoring terminal 2 may be a smartphone 2-1, a tablet PC, a smart watch 2-2, or the like. The monitoring terminal 2 can transmit and receive information wirelessly with a signal processing circuit or a signal processing device of the flexible patch device 1 via wireless communication. The wireless communication may be a low power short range wireless communication such as NFC, Bluetooth, or the like. The user can conveniently monitor the biometric information in real time via the monitoring device 2. When using the low power short-range wireless communication, power consumption can be minimized.

2 is a view showing the appearance of a flexible patch device including a needle according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a view showing the appearance of a flexible patch device without a needle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3, the flexible patch device 1 may include a needle that can be inserted into the body. The needle may be a micro-needle with a micro size for insertion into the body. The needle may be provided in the flexible patch, inserted into the body in a flexible form, and a sensing electrode may be integrated in the needle to measure the biosignal through the sensing electrode at the time of insertion. A lancet device with a lancet in the form of a needle can help insert the needle into the body. In this case, after the needle is inserted into the vessel together with the lancet, the lancet is removed while the needle is inserted into the body.

4 is a diagram illustrating a layer-by-layer structure of a flexible patch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the flexible patch device 1 includes a lancet device 11, a housing 12, an antenna 13, a flexible module 14, a first attachment part 15-1, and a second attachment part ( 15-2), first flexible patch 16-1, second flexible patch 16-2, and skin attachment portion 17.

The housing 12 houses the components in the flexible patch device 1. A first sensor is integrated in the first flexible patch 16-1, and a second sensor is integrated in the second flexible patch 16-2 to measure bio signals independently of each other. The first attachment portion 15-1 attaches the first flexible patch 16-1, and the second attachment portion 15-2 attaches the second flexible patch 16-2. Each flexible patch 16-1 and 16-2 are detachable and combined in the flexible patch device 1 by user selection, and measure a complex biosignal desired by the user based on the combination through user selection.

Each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2 can measure a different biosignal as it is replaced by another type of flexible patch by the user. Each of the flexible patches 16-1 and 16-2 is a flexible patch incorporating an embedded electrochemical sensor for measuring biochemical signals using body fluids in the body, and an attached type for measuring biochemical signals using body fluids in the body. The flexible patch in which the electrochemical sensor is integrated, or the flexible patch in which the attached biophysiological signal sensor which measures the physiological electrical signal may be integrated. For example, a user may select and combine a flexible patch having an integrated electrochemical sensor and a flexible patch having an integrated biophysical signal sensor. As another example, a user may select and assemble a flexible patch in which the attached electrochemical sensor is integrated and a flexible patch in which the attachable electrochemical sensor is integrated. The biochemical signal may be various electrolytes in the body (Na, K, Cl, Mg, PO4-, etc.), pH, protein, urea, glucose, cholesterol, and the like, and physiological electrical signals include ECG, EMG, and EEG. Each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2 includes sensing electrodes, electrode pads, and lines. When the flexible patch has a needle, a sensing electrode may be integrated in the needle as in the second flexible patch 16-2 of FIG. 4.

The flexible module 14 is a flexible material and is composed of a circuit for receiving and processing a biosignal. For example, a signal receiver for receiving a biosignal having a different electrical physical quantity from a multi-sensor, a biosignal signal output from the signal receiver, and processing the biosignal according to the electrical physical quantity of the received biosignal to biometric information. It includes a signal processing unit for converting. The signal receiver may include various input units for receiving different signals according to the sensor types of the flexible patches 16-1 and 16-2. The signal processor may include an amplifier circuit and a filter circuit. The antenna 13 transmits biometric information to an external device. The antenna 13 may be a low power short range wireless communication antenna. For example, it may be an NFC antenna that transmits and receives a signal through an NFC tag, and may be a Bluetooth (BLE) antenna that transmits and receives a signal through a Bluetooth (BLE).

The first attachment portion 15-1 attaches the first flexible patch 16-1, and the second attachment portion 15-2 attaches the second flexible patch 16-2. Each attachment part 15-1, 15-2 may attach each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2 to the flexible module 14, and between each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2. Can be attached. However, it is noted that positions between the flexible patches 16-1 and 16-2 do not overlap each other. For example, the needles including the sensing electrodes of the first flexible patch 16-1 and the second flexible patch 16-2 do not overlap with each other. Skin attachment 17 is used to attach flexible patch device 1 to the skin.

At least one flexible patch may include a needle that can be inserted into the body. In FIG. 4, the needle is integrated in the second flexible patch 16-2. The lancet device has a lancet in the form of a needle that guides the insertion of the needle into the body. In FIG. 4, in the case of the flexible patch apparatus without needles, there is a case where there is no lancet device and the flexible patch needle.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a flexible patch module viewed from below according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exploded view of the flexible patch module of FIG. 5.

5 and 6, each of the flexible patches 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4 forming the flexible patch module is attached to each attachment portion 15-1, 15-2, and 15-. 3, 15-4) are attached to the flexible module 14 so that the positions do not overlap with each other, the independent living body using each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4 A signal can be obtained. Each of the flexible patches 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4 may have a tube shape having concentric circles having the same center but different sizes as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a flexible patch module viewed from below according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an exploded view of the flexible patch module of FIG. 7.

7 and 8, each of the flexible patches 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4 forming the flexible patch module is combined with the flexible patch described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. May differ from one another in the center. Also, unlike the flexible patch described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sizes may be the same. However, the principle of arranging the flexible patches 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4 without overlapping with each other is the same. Each flexible patch 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4 is attached to each other using the attachment parts 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, 15-4 so that the positions do not overlap each other. When attached to the flexible module 14, independent biosignals can be obtained using the flexible patches 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

1: Multi-sensor based flexible patch device 11: Lancet device
12: housing 13: antenna
14: flexible module 15-1: first attachment portion
15-2: second attachment portion 15-3: third attachment portion
15-4: Fourth Attachment 16-1: First Flexible Patch
16-2: Second Flexible Patch 16-3: Third Flexible Patch
16-4: fourth flexible patch 17: skin attachment

Claims (10)

A first flexible patch in which the first sensor is integrated;
A second flexible patch in which a second sensor is integrated;
A first attachment portion for attaching the first flexible patch; And
A second attachment portion for attaching a second flexible patch; Including;
Each flexible patch is detachable and combined in a flexible patch device by a user selection, and the multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that for measuring the complex bio-signal desired by the user based on the combination through the user selection. The method of claim 1 wherein each flexible patch is
Multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that the position does not overlap each other when attached. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible patch is
The multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that for measuring the different bio-signals as replaced by a different type of flexible patch by the user. The method of claim 1 wherein each flexible patch is
A flexible patch integrated with an implantable electrochemical sensor for measuring biochemical signals using body fluids in the body;
A flexible patch integrated with an attachable electrochemical sensor for measuring biochemical signals using body fluids outside the body; And
Flexible patch integrated with the attached biophysiological signal sensor for measuring the physiological electrical signal;
Multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that any one of. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-sensor based flexible patch device
A housing for receiving components in the flexible patch device;
A signal receiving unit for receiving a bio-signal having a different electrical physical quantity from each sensor, and a signal processing unit for receiving the bio-signal output from the signal receiving unit and converts the bio-signal into biometric information according to the electrical physical quantity of the received bio-signal Flexible module of a flexible material comprising a; And
An antenna for transmitting biometric information to an external device;
Multi-sensor based flexible patch device further comprising. 6. The antenna of claim 5 wherein the antenna
Multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that the low power short-range wireless communication antenna. 6. The flexible patch of claim 5, wherein each flexible patch is
Multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that attached to the flexible module through each attachment. The method of claim 1,
At least one flexible patch comprises a needle insertable into the body,
The multi-sensor based flexible patch device includes a lancet device having a needle-shaped lancet for guiding the needle's body insertion; Multi-sensor based flexible patch device further comprising. A first flexible patch in which the first sensor is integrated is selected by the user and attached to the flexible patch device by the first attachment portion;
A second flexible patch in which the second sensor is integrated is selected by the user and attached by the second attachment portion into the flexible patch device;
Assembling the flexible patch device including the attached flexible patches; And
Measuring a complex biosignal desired by a user through a flexible patch device;
Bio-signal measurement method using a multi-sensor based flexible patch device comprising a. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each flexible patch is
Bio-signal measurement method using a multi-sensor based flexible patch device, characterized in that the position is attached so as not to overlap each other.

Images