Patent ID: 11883146
Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user, the body part comprising:
a first subdermal feature at a first depth within the body part;
a second subdermal feature at a second depth within the body part deeper than the first depth, wherein the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature are positioned in a same region of the body part;

a miniaturized impedance sensor embedded in the band and positioned in the band to be pressed against the same region of the body part having the first subdermal feature and the second subdermal feature as the user wears the band, the miniaturized impedance sensor comprising:
a first miniaturized electrode configured in the band to transmit an electronic signal through the body part as the user wears the band, wherein the first miniaturized electrode is configured to transmit the electronic signal at a first power level or a second power level;
a second miniaturized electrode spaced in the band from the first miniaturized electrode at a first distance, wherein the first distance is configured so that:
the second miniaturized electrode receives the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the first subdermal feature when the user wears the band; and
the electronic signal bypasses the second subdermal feature when it is received by the second miniaturized electrode;
wherein the first distance is less than a first threshold distance to prevent the electronic signal from penetrating into the body part to the second depth of the second subdermal feature; and

a third miniaturized electrode spaced from the first miniaturized electrode at a second distance, wherein:
the second distance is greater than the first distance; and
the third miniaturized electrode is configured to receive the electronic signal from the first miniaturized electrode through the second subdermal feature when the user wears the band; and

a processing device coupled to the band and configured to select the first depth of the first subdermal feature or the second depth of the second subdermal feature, wherein the first depth is selected to correspond to the first subdermal feature or the second depth is selected to correspond to the second subdermal feature within the body part based on the first distance or the second distance between the first miniaturized electrode and the second miniaturized electrode or the third miniaturized electrode,
wherein the miniaturized impedance sensor comprises at least one insulating layer, a conductive layer, a catalyst layer, and an interstitial filler, and wherein the first, second and third miniaturized electrodes are configured in parallel rows; and
wherein the interstitial filler includes a plurality of wells between the parallel rows of miniaturized electrodes configured to:
be flush with a surface of the miniaturized impedance sensor to form a continuous surface, and
allow a dermal feature to flex into the plurality of wells.