TWI735123B - Bioinformatics sensor patch - Google Patents

Abstract

A bioinformatics sensor patch includes a casing, a plurality of electrode sheets, an electronic device, a plurality of electrical connection sheets, and a power supply unit. The plurality of electrode sheets are electrically independent from each other and at least one sensing end is exposed outside the casing. The electronic device includes a substrate and a signal-processing element. The substrate includes a plurality of first conductive contacts and a plurality of second conductive contacts. The signal-processing element is arranged on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive contacts. A connection end of each electrical connection sheet is connected to the electrode sheet, and a contact end of each electrical connection sheet abuts on the second conductive contact of the substrate. The power supply unit provides power required for the operation of the electronic device. The above-mentioned bioinformatics sensor patch can simplify the number of parts and the assembly process.

Description

Biological Information Sensing Patch

The present invention relates to a sensor patch, especially a biological information sensor patch.

The conventional way to obtain biological information (such as blood sugar) is by medical staff to draw blood with a needle or the user pierces the skin to obtain a small amount of blood before performing chemical analysis. Such a measurement method is only the biological information obtained at a single time point. If the measurement is intensive, it will not only cause inconvenience to the operator, but also cause the subject to have a greater sense of pain, thereby generating a sense of rejection or reducing the number of measurements.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a bio-information sensing patch has been developed, which can be attached to the skin of a living body, and can reduce the pain of the subject and obtain tissue fluid with a low-invasive puncture, so that it can be continuous for a long time. Obtain the biological information of the testee in a way. The existing biological information sensing patch uses welding or other electrical connection elements (such as spring pins, conductive adhesive materials, etc.) to electrically connect the sensing electrode and the substrate of the electronic element. Such a structure not only increases the number of parts, but also the assembly process is more complicated.

In view of this, simplifying the number of parts and the assembly process of the biological information sensing patch is the goal that needs to be worked hard at present.

The present invention provides a biological information sensing patch, which is connected with an electrical connection piece and an electrode piece, and is electrically connected to a substrate of an electronic device in a physically abutting manner, so that the number of parts and the assembly process can be simplified .

The biological information sensing patch of an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a plurality of electrode pads, an electronic device, a plurality of electrical connection pads, and a power supply unit. The shell includes an upper cover and a lower cover, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover define an accommodating space, and the lower cover includes a plurality of openings. A plurality of electrode sheets are arranged in the accommodating space and are electrically independent of each other, wherein each electrode sheet includes at least one folded edge and at least one sensing end, and the sensing end is arranged at the top of the folded edge and corresponds to the opening, The exposed sensing end is used as a working electrode or a reference electrode. The electronic device is arranged in the accommodating space and includes a substrate and a signal processing element. The substrate includes a plurality of first conductive contacts and a plurality of second conductive contacts, which are electrically connected to the corresponding first conductive contacts. The signal processing element is arranged on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive contact. One connection end of each electrical connection piece is connected to the corresponding electrode piece, and one contact end of each electrical connection piece abuts against the corresponding second conductive contact of the substrate. The power supply unit is electrically connected to the electronic device to provide power required for the operation of the electronic device.

The following detailed descriptions are provided with specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to make it easier to understand the purpose, technical content, characteristics and effects of the present invention.

1: Biological information sensor patch

11: shell

111: upper cover

112: lower cover

1121: Hole

1122: limit structure

12: Electrode sheet

12a~12d: electrode sheet

121: sensing end

122: Folding

123: protrusion

13: Electronic device

131: Substrate

1311: The first conductive contact

1312: second conductive contact

132: Signal Processing Components

1321: Microprocessor

1322: memory unit

1323: communication interface

132a: conductive bump

132b: Lead

14: Electrical connection piece

141: contact end

15: Power supply unit

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a biological information sensing patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the exploded structure of the biological information sensing patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3a to 3g are schematic diagrams showing the electrode pads and electrical connection pads of the biological information sensing patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 to 5 are schematic diagrams showing the bottom cover and electrode sheet of the biological information sensing patch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the bottom cover of the biological information sensing patch and the electrode sheet according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the signal processing element of the biological information sensing patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, and the drawings will be used as an example. In addition to these detailed descriptions, the present invention can also be widely implemented in other embodiments, and easy substitutions, modifications, and equivalent changes of any of the embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the patent application is allow. In the description of the specification, in order to enable the reader to have a more complete understanding of the present invention, many specific details are provided; however, the present invention may still be implemented under the premise of omitting some or all of the specific details. In addition, well-known steps or elements are not described in details to avoid unnecessary limitation of the present invention. The same or similar elements in the drawings will be represented by the same or similar symbols. It should be noted that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent the actual size or quantity of the components. Some details may not be completely drawn in order to keep the drawings concise.

1 and FIG. 2, the biological information sensing patch 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 11, a plurality of electrode sheets 12, an electronic device 13, a plurality of electrical connection sheets 14 and a power supply unit 15. The housing 11 includes an upper cover 111 and a lower cover 112, and the upper cover 111 and the lower cover 112 define an accommodating space, wherein the lower cover 112 includes a plurality of openings 1121. The upper cover 111 and the lower cover 112 may be made of the same material or different materials. In one embodiment, the lower cover 112 may be a semi-soft material with adhesiveness, which can be closely attached to the surface of human skin, such as artificial skin. In another embodiment, the upper cover 111 may It is a non-sticky semi-soft material that can be pressed by the user to form an appropriate streamlined structure to reduce the resistance to impact the biological information sensing patch 1 in all directions. In another embodiment, the upper cover 111 and the lower cover 112 may be made of hard materials and semi-soft materials to ensure the size and shape of the accommodating space, and at the same time, they can be closely attached to the surface of the human skin or/and lowered in various directions. The resistance of hitting the biological information sensing patch 1.

Following the above description, the plurality of electrode sheets 12 are disposed in the accommodating space of the housing 11 and are electrically independent of each other. Each electrode sheet 12 includes at least one sensing end 121, and the sensing end 121 corresponds to the opening 1121 of the lower cover 112. The exposed sensing end 121 can be in contact with the skin tissue layer or the skin surface to serve as a working electrode or a reference electrode. In one embodiment, the plurality of electrode sheets 12 includes at least one working electrode, at least one reference electrode, and at least one counter electrode. The sensing layer coated on the surface of the sensing end 121 can convert biological information (such as the concentration of blood sugar, lactic acid or a specific drug) into an electronic signal. The sensing layer can be a composite component or a multilayer structure. Taking the measurement of blood sugar (glucose) as an example, the sensing layer includes glucose oxidase and/or glucose dehydrogenase. The sensing end 121 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a pointed needle shape, which can penetrate into the skin tissue layer of the biological individual, so that the sensing layer coated on the surface of the sensing end 121 reacts with the tissue fluid or blood of the skin tissue layer , To measure the biological information in tissue fluid or blood. In one embodiment, the sensing end may be a bump or a flat surface, and the sensing end contacts the skin surface during measurement to measure saliva, tears, sweat or biological information on the skin surface.

Following the above description, the electronic device 13 is disposed in the accommodating space of the housing 11. The electronic device 13 includes a substrate 131 and a signal processing element 132. The substrate 131 includes a plurality of first conductive contacts 1311 and a plurality of second conductive contacts 1312, wherein each second conductive contact 1312 is connected to a corresponding first conductive contact through a connection circuit (not shown) in the substrate 131 Point 1311 is electrically connected. The signal processing element 132 is disposed on the substrate 131 and is electrically connected to the first conductive contact 1311 of the substrate 131. For example, the signal processing element 132 may be electrically connected to the first conductive contact 1311 of the substrate 131 through conductive bumps 132a or leads 132b. A connection end of each electrical connection piece 14 is connected to the corresponding electrode piece 12, and a contact end 141 of each electrical connection piece 14 abuts against the corresponding second conductive contact 1312 of the substrate 131. The power supply unit 15 is electrically connected to the electronic device 13 to provide power required for the operation of the electronic device 13.

In one embodiment, the electrode sheet 12 and the electrical connection sheet 14 are integrally formed components, such as stamping and forming. This integrally formed component can be manufactured through a continuous die stamping process, and the coil is sent equidistantly to each separate engineering station in the mold by a feeder for stamping processing, and the final product is completed at the final engineering station. According to this structure, the electrical connection piece 14 can make the contact end 141 abut the second conductive contact 1312 of the substrate 131 through the restoring force of the deformation to form a conductive path. Therefore, the biological information sensing patch of the present invention does not require welding or other electrical connection elements (such as spring pins, conductive adhesive materials, etc.) to electrically connect electrodes and electronic devices, so as to simplify the number of parts and the assembly process, and can be used in large quantities. Automated manufacturing. In an embodiment, the material of the electrode sheet 12 and the electrical connection sheet 14 may be stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium or titanium alloy, or the like.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 a to 3 g to illustrate the structure of various electrode sheets 12 and electrical connection sheets 14. Referring to FIG. 3a, the electrode sheet 12 includes at least one folded edge 122, and the sensing end 121 is disposed at the top of the folded edge 122. The folded edge 122 of the electrode sheet 12 is inserted into the opening 1121 of the lower cover 112 to prevent the electrode 12 from sliding. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 3b, the electrode sheet 12 can also directly extend out of the sensing end 121 and bend downward, so as to omit the folding edge 122 shown in FIG. 3a.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the electrical connection sheet 14 extends outward from the electrode sheet 12, but it is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3c, the electrical connection sheet 14 can also be bent toward the electrode sheet 12 side, so that the contact end 141 of the electrical connection sheet 14 and the sensing end 121 of the electrode sheet 12 are located on the electrode sheet 12, respectively. The opposite side. According to this structure, more sensing terminals 121 can be arranged in a unit area.

Please refer to FIG. 3d. In one embodiment, the electrode sheet 12 can be connected to a plurality of electrical connection sheets 14. According to this structure, the plurality of electrical connection sheets 14 can balance the pressure applied by the substrate 131 to the electrode sheets 12, and the reliability of the electrical connection of the electrode sheets 12 can be improved.

In the foregoing embodiment, the contact end 141 of the electrical connection piece 14 is a corner, but it is not limited to this. For example, referring to FIG. 3e, the contact end 141 of the electrical connection piece 14 may also be a curved surface. It can be understood that the contact end 141 is a corner or a curved surface, and its contact area with the second conductive contact 1312 is larger than that of conventional electrical connection elements such as thimble, so that the reliability of the electrical connection can be improved. In one embodiment, please refer to FIG. 3f, With proper processing, a single electrical connection piece 14 can form a plurality of contact ends 141, which also has the effect of improving the reliability of electrical connections.

In the foregoing embodiment, the electrical connection piece 14 extends from the electrode piece 12 to the outside and then is bent toward the electrode piece 12 side, but it is not limited to this. In one embodiment, please refer to FIG. 3g, which is a cross-sectional structure of the electrical connection sheet 14. As shown in FIG. 3g, the electrical connection piece 14 is formed with a contact end 141 bent upward from the inside of the electrode piece 12. According to this structure, the integrally formed electrode sheet 12 and the electrical connection sheet 14 have the effect of saving material and increasing the distribution density of the electrode sheet 12.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower cover 112 includes at least one limiting structure 1122 disposed in the opening 1121, and the folded edge 122 of the electrode sheet 12 has at least one corresponding protrusion 123 . The protrusion 123 of the electrode sheet 12 can be engaged with the corresponding limiting structure 1122 of the lower cover 112. The limiting structure 1122 of the lower cover 112 and the protrusion 123 of the electrode sheet 12 may have different designs according to actual requirements or different assembly methods. For example, the limiting structure 1122 can interfere with the end of the protrusion 123, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the limiting structure 1122 can clamp the protrusion 123 or interfere with both sides of the protrusion 123, as shown in FIG. 5. According to the above structure, the electrode sheet 12 can be prevented from sliding or falling off to facilitate subsequent processes. For example, the electrode sheet 12 can be assembled with the lower cover 112 first, and then the assembled components are processed, such as cleaning, electroplating, chemical formulation coating, etc., and finally the electronic device 13 and the upper cover 111 are assembled with the electronic device 13 and the upper cover 111. .

Please refer to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the shape of each electrode sheet 12 and the electrical connection sheet 14 are the same. In the design, it is divided into working electrode, reference electrode or counter electrode according to different functions. For example, the surface of the sensing end of the specific electrode sheet (such as 12a, 12b) is coated with a suitable sensing layer to serve as the working electrode, and the sensing end of the electrode sheet 12c, 12d serves as the reference electrode and the opposite electrode, respectively. It can be understood that the uniform specification design of each electrode sheet 12 and electrical connection sheet 14 can reduce management and inventory costs, and is beneficial to design flexibility, and achieves a small amount of diversified customized production. For example, in order to increase the amount of signal generated by the working electrode, a plurality of electrode sheets that function as the working electrode can be provided. Alternatively, different sensing layers can be coated on different working electrodes to measure different biological information.

In one embodiment, the signal processing component 132 can be a single electronic component or a combination of multiple electronic components, which can process the electronic signal generated by the sensor and store it or send it to an external electronic device. For example, referring to FIG. 7, the signal processing component 132 includes a microprocessor 1321, a memory unit 1322 and a communication interface 1323. The microprocessor 1321 can process the electronic signal generated by the sensor and store it in the memory unit 1322, or transmit it to an external electronic device, such as a computer, a mobile Internet device, etc., via the communication interface 1323. In one embodiment, the communication interface 1323 may be a wireless communication module (such as a wireless LAN module, a Bluetooth module) or a wired communication port (such as a USB port).

In summary, the biological information sensing patch of the present invention is connected to an electrode plate with an electrical connection piece, and is electrically connected to the substrate of an electronic device in a physical abutment manner, so that the biological information of the present invention can be simplified. Sensing the number of patch parts and the assembly process, and mass production can be automated. Preferably, the electrical connection sheet and the electrode sheet are integrally formed and are components of the same appearance, which can reduce management and inventory costs, and is beneficial to design flexibility, thereby achieving a small amount of diversified customized production.

The above-mentioned embodiments are only to illustrate the technical ideas and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable those who are familiar with the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement them accordingly. When they cannot be used to limit the patent scope of the present invention, That is, all equal changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should still be covered by the patent scope of the present invention.

1: Biological information sensor patch

11: shell

111: upper cover

112: lower cover

12: Electrode sheet

13: Electronic device

14: Electrical connection piece

15: Power supply unit

Claims (18)

A bio-information sensing patch includes: a housing, which includes an upper cover and a lower cover, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover define an accommodating space, and the lower cover includes a plurality of openings; a plurality of electrode plates, They are arranged in the accommodating space and are electrically independent of each other, wherein each of the electrode sheets includes at least one folded edge and at least one sensing end, and the sensing end is arranged at the top of the folded edge and corresponds to the opening , To expose the sensing end as a working electrode or a reference electrode; an electronic device, which is disposed in the accommodating space, and includes: a substrate including a plurality of first conductive contacts and a plurality of second conductive contacts Point, which is electrically connected to the corresponding first conductive contact; and a signal processing element, which is disposed on the substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive contact; a plurality of electrical connection pieces, each of which A connection end of the electrical connection piece is connected to the corresponding electrode piece, and a contact end of each electrical connection piece abuts against the corresponding second conductive contact of the substrate; and a power supply unit, It is electrically connected with the electronic device to provide power required for the operation of the electronic device. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the lower cover includes at least one limiting structure disposed in the opening, the folding edge of the electrode sheet has at least one protrusion, and the protrusion is stuck Conform to the corresponding limit structure. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the contact end of the electrical connection piece abuts against the corresponding second conductive contact of the substrate by the deformation restoring force of the electrical connection piece. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection piece abuts against the second conductive contact with a corner or an arc. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrode patches is connected to a plurality of the electrical connection patches. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection sheet extends outward from the electrode sheet. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the contact end and the sensing end of the electrical connection sheet are located on different sides of the electrode sheet. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the electrode sheet and the electrical connection sheet are integrally formed. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein each of the electrode patch and the electrical connection patch has the same shape. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode patches include at least one reference electrode, at least one working electrode, and at least one counter electrode. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode sheets includes at least one of the reference electrode and a plurality of the working electrodes. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode sheets include at least one of the reference electrode and a plurality of the working electrodes, and the surfaces of the plurality of working electrodes are coated with different sensing layers. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the appearance of the sensing end is pointed, convex or flat. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the material of the electrode sheet is stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium or titanium alloy. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing element includes a memory unit. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing component includes a wireless communication module or a wired communication port. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the lower cover comprises a semi-soft material with adhesiveness. The biological information sensing patch according to claim 1, wherein the upper cover comprises a semi-soft material without adhesiveness.

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