Sweat Biosensing Companion Devices for Novel Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The present inventive concept expands the core technology of sweat biosensing companion devices to address unmet needs in various industries, including athletic performance monitoring, food safety, environmental pollution monitoring, mental health diagnosis, and disease outbreak detection.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed sweat biosensing companion devices for monitoring health status, detecting toxins, and diagnosing ailments. However, the original patent did not contemplate the application of this technology to novel fields and use cases. The present inventive concept solves this problem by adapting the core technology to address specific challenges in new industries, thereby increasing its versatility and potential impact.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept comprises a wearable device or a network of devices that collect and analyze sweat data to detect biomarkers indicative of athletic fatigue, toxin exposure, environmental pollutants, mental health disorders, or disease outbreaks. The devices provide personalized coaching recommendations, generate alerts or warnings, or create maps of pollutant exposure levels based on the collective sweat data. The inventive concept leverages the advantages of non-invasive, real-time biosensing to offer novel solutions in these industries.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce novel applications and use cases that were not contemplated in the original patent. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the core technology to address specific challenges in new industries, thereby expanding its scope and potential impact.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include integrating sweat biosensing companion devices with other health monitoring technologies, such as heart rate or skin conductance sensors, to provide a more comprehensive picture of an individual's health status. Variations could also include using different types of biosensors or analytical techniques to detect biomarkers in sweat.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including sports technology, food safety, environmental monitoring, mental health, and disease surveillance. The target market includes athletes, consumers, environmental organizations, healthcare providers, and government agencies seeking innovative solutions to address specific challenges in their respective fields.
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Biomedical engineering and wearable biosensing technologies, with expertise in non-invasive analyte detection, sensor design, and physiological monitoring systems
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A biomedical engineer or biotech researcher with advanced degree, experience in sensor development, understanding of sweat-based biomarker detection, and familiarity with multi-sensor diagnostic technologies
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's core technology of multi-analyte sweat biosensing provides a foundational platform for expanding applications across various domains. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the core biosensing methodology by applying the established technological framework to new contextual environments. The underlying sensing principles remain consistent, with the primary innovation being the targeted application of the existing technological approach.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,313 |
|---|---|
| Title | Sweat biosensing companion devices and subsystems |
| Assignee(s) | University of Cincinnati |