Patent Publication Number: US-2017367679-A1

Title: Wearable ultrasonic device for health monitoring with display

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a wearable ultrasonic device for health monitoring. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ultrasonic sensors have many advantages such as small size, cheap price, safety, and widespread use in medical devices. The ultrasonic device can be used for medical diagnosis which produces a result and transmits the result to a display device separate from the ultrasonic device. However, results obtained from the ultrasonic sensor may not be accurate when air is positioned between the ultrasonic sensor and the user&#39;s skin, and there is a desire to readily ascertain the user&#39;s health results on a display. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic device. 
         FIG. 2  is cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic sensor in the ultrasonic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a signal transmitting layer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a wearable ultrasonic device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment. The wearable ultrasonic device  10  is configured for medical examination and diagnosis and is able to constantly monitor a user&#39;s health characteristics such as blood flow, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. 
     The wearable ultrasonic device  10  includes an ultrasonic sensor  15 , a shielding layer  13  positioned on the ultrasonic sensor  15 , a buffer layer  12  positioned on the shielding layer  13 , a display panel  11  positioned on the buffer layer  12 , and a frame  14 . The frame  14  defines a space  101  to receive the ultrasonic sensor  15 , the shielding layer  13 , the buffer layer  12 , the display panel  11 , and other elements not shown (for example battery and chip) of the wearable ultrasonic device  10 . 
     The display panel  11  is mounted on the frame  14  and includes a display surface  110  to show images. The display surface  110  is exposed from the frame  14 . The ultrasonic sensor  15  is located at a side of the display panel  11  facing away from the display surface  110 . The ultrasonic sensor  15  is coupled to the frame  14  by a first adhesive layer  16 . The first adhesive layer  16  may be flexible. 
     The ultrasonic sensor  15  is electrically coupled to the display panel  11  by a signal transmitting module  17 . The ultrasonic sensor  15  can monitor a user&#39;s blood flow, blood pressure, and heart rate when the ultrasonic sensor  15  is placed on skin of the user and produce data signals corresponding to the monitoring. The data signals corresponding to the result of monitoring are transmitted to the display panel  11  by the signal transmitting module  17 , and the display panel  11  displays the data signals as images or as information in other form on the display surface  110 . The signal transmitting module  17  may be a flexible printed circuit. 
     The display panel  11  may be a known organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel or a known liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. In this embodiment, the display panel  11  may be a flexible OLED display panel, so the wearable ultrasonic device  10  can be attached to the body or limb of the user. In other embodiments, the display panel  11  may be an LCD panel having a curved shape to fit any part of the user&#39;s body. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the ultrasonic sensor  15  according to an exemplary embodiment. The ultrasonic sensor  15  includes a substrate  150 , a signal receiving layer  152 , a signal transmitting layer  151 , a flexible layer  153 , and a protecting layer  154 . The signal receiving layer  152  is coupled to a surface of the substrate  150  by a second adhesive layer  155 . The signal transmitting layer  151  is coupled to a surface of the substrate  150  facing away from the signal receiving layer  152  by another second adhesive layer  155 . The signal transmitting layer  151  is closer to the display panel  11  than the signal receiving layer  152 . In this exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor  15  has a curved shape (e.g. arc shape). The second adhesive layer  155  is flexible. The second adhesive layer  155  and the first adhesive layer  160  can be made of a same material or different materials. 
     The signal transmitting layer  151  is configured to emit ultrasonic waves. The signal receiving layer  152  is configured to receive ultrasonic waves reflected by a human body or body part to which the wearable ultrasonic device  10  is attached. The signal receiving layer  152  includes a first piezoelectric material layer  1521  and a first electrode layer  1522  positioned on the first piezoelectric material layer  1521 . The first piezoelectric material layer  1521  is coupled to the substrate  150  by the second adhesive layer  155 . That is, the second adhesive layer  155  is positioned between the substrate  150  and the first piezoelectric material layer  1521 . 
     The signal transmitting layer  151  includes a second electrode layer  1511 , a third electrode layer  1513 , and a second piezoelectric material layer  1512  positioned between the second electrode layer  1511  and the third electrode layer  1513 . The third electrode layer  1513  is coupled to the substrate  150  by the second adhesive layer  155 . That is, the second adhesive layer  155  is positioned between the substrate  150  and the third electrode layer  1513 . 
     The first piezoelectric material layer  1521  and the second piezoelectric material layer  1512  can be made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The first electrode layer  1522 , the second electrode layer  1511 , and the third electrode layer  1513  can be made of a same electrically conductive material or different electrically conductive materials. 
     The substrate  150  can be made of a flexible material, such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate. In some embodiments, the substrate  150  is made of rigid material, such as glass. A plurality of thin film transistors  150   a  is formed on the substrate  150 . The plurality of thin film transistors  150   a  is arranged in an array and is electrically coupled to the signal receiving layer  152  and the signal transmitting module  17 . The thin film transistors  150   a  are configured to receive electrical signals from the signal receiving layer  152 , convert the electrical signals to data signals, and transmit the data signals to the display panel  11  by the signal transmitting module  17 . 
     The flexible layer  153  is formed on a surface of the signal receiving layer  152  facing away from the signal transmitting layer  151 . The flexible layer  153  is configured to protect the signal receiving layer  152 . The protecting layer  154  is formed on a surface of the signal transmitting layer  151  facing away from the signal receiving layer  152 . The protecting layer  154  is configured to protect the signal transmitting layer  151 . The flexible layer  153  and the protecting layer  154  are made of rubber or other common flexible material. 
     The shielding layer  13  covers a surface of the ultrasonic sensor  15  adjacent to the display panel  11 , and particularly, covers a surface of the protecting layer  154  adjacent to the display panel  11 . The shielding layer  13  is made of an electrically conductive material and is configured to avoid any electrical activity in the display panel  11  interfering with the ultrasonic sensor  15 . In addition, the shielding layer  13  is flexible. In some embodiments, the shielding layer  13  may cover at least two surfaces of the ultrasonic sensor  15 . The ultrasonic sensor  15  being substantially enclosed by the shielding layer  13 . 
     The buffer layer  12  is positioned between the shielding layer  13  and the display panel  11 . The buffer layer  12  is elastic and configured to protect the ultrasonic sensor  15  against shock and impact. For example, the buffer layer  12  can be made of an elastic rubber. In some embodiments, the buffer layer  12  can be omitted. 
     In this embodiment, the frame  14  can be made of a flexible material, such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate. In some embodiments, the frame  14  is made of a rigid material. In some embodiments, the frame  14  may be made of a rigid material. Moreover, the frame  15  may have a curved shape to fit any part of the user&#39;s body in a snug fashion. 
     As an example of when in use, the wearable ultrasonic device  10  is attached to a user&#39;s skin by attaching the frame  14  on the user&#39;s skin. A voltage is applied between the second electrode layer  1511  and the third electrode layer  1513 , and the second piezoelectric material layer  1512  vibrates and emits ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves pass through the user&#39;s skin to the subcutaneous fatty tissue, and a portion of the ultrasonic waves is reflected by the subcutaneous fatty tissue to the signal receiving layer  152 . The reflected ultrasonic waves change according to the status of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. The signal receiving layer  152  converts the received ultrasonic wave signals to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the thin film transistors  150   a . The thin film transistors  150   a  convert the electrical signals to data signals, and transmit the data signals to the display panel  11 . The user can observe the images or other information on the display panel  11 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a signal transmitting layer  161  according to a second exemplary embodiment. The signal transmitting layer  161  can be used in the ultrasonic sensor  15  and can be substituted for the signal transmitting layer  151 . 
     The signal transmitting layer  161  is configured to emit ultrasonic waves continuously. The signal transmitting layer  161  includes a second electrode layer  1611  and a plurality of piezoelectric units  1610  formed on the second electrode layer  1611 , wherein the piezoelectric units  1610  are closer to the substrate  21  than the second electrode layer  1611 . The piezoelectric units  1610  are separate from each other. Each piezoelectric unit  1610  includes a second piezoelectric material layer  1615  formed on the second electrode layer  1611  and a conductive layer  1614  formed on the second piezoelectric material layer  1615  facing away from the second electrode layer  1611 . Each second piezoelectric material layer  1615  is able to vibrate and emit ultrasonic waves when a voltage is applied between the second electrode layer  1611  and the corresponding conductive layer  1614 . 
     Each piezoelectric unit  1610  can emit ultrasonic waves independently called “beam forming mode”. In the beam forming mode, ultrasonic waves emitted from one piezoelectric unit  1610  overlap with ultrasonic waves emitted from other piezoelectric unit  1610 , as such intensity of the ultrasonic waves from the signal transmitting layer  161  can be effectively improved. The piezoelectric units  1610  can emit ultrasonic waves at a same time or at different times, for example the piezoelectric units  1610  emit ultrasonic waves in certain order. The piezoelectric units  1610  can emit ultrasonic waves having a same intensity or different intensities. 
     The first piezoelectric material layer  1521  and the second piezoelectric material layer  1615  can be made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The first electrode layer  1522 , the second electrode layer  1611 , and the conductive layer  1614  can be made of a same electrically conductive material or different electrically conductive materials. 
     It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.