Implantable systems and methods for UV dose monitoring
An ultra violet (UV) light dose monitoring system may include an implantable microchip for injection below the surface of a person's skin. The microchip may include a solar cell, a data telemetry transmitter, and a first sensor cell that absorbs UV light that passes through the skin. The system may also include a remote reader. The remote reader may include a data telemetry receiver that receives the data from the microchip and a processor for controlling operation of the remote reader. The data telemetry transmitter may transmit data indicative of a UV light intensity for the UV light absorbed by the first sensor cell to the data telemetry receiver, and the processor may calculate a UV dose based on the data.
1. An ultra violet (UV) light dose monitoring system, comprising:
an implantable microchip for injection below a surface of a person's skin, the microchip comprising:
a solar cell;
a data telemetry transmitter;
a first light sensor configured to absorb UV light;
non-volatile memory configured to store UV light intensity information; and
a processor in communication with the first light sensor to:
receive a light sensor signal indicative of a UV light intensity absorbed by the first light sensor,
store sensed UV light intensities in the non-volatile memory, and
in response to receiving a signal from a remote reader, cause the data telemetry transmitter to transmit one or more of the stored UV light intensities.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microchip further includes a non-UV filter disposed over the first light sensor, the non-UV filter configured to allow UV light to pass while blocking other forms of light.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microchip has a second light sensor that is covered by an UV filter configured to block UV light;
the first light sensor is configured to absorb light including UV light and output a total light intensity;
the second light sensor is configured to absorb light and outputs a non UV light intensity; and
the processor is further configured to calculate the UV light intensity by determining a difference between the total light intensity and the non UV light intensity.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microchip further comprises a conformal material coating that covers the microchip and has a thickness between about 5 microns and about 15 microns thick.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell and the first light sensor are photovoltaic cells.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein an area of the solar cell is between 15 and 25 times an area of the first light sensor.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microchip is a monolithic chip and the microchip is between about 200 microns and 500 microns in width.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the remote reader, the remote reader comprising:
a data telemetry receiver to receive the UV light intensities from the microchip; and
a processor configured to calculate a UV dose based on the UV light intensities.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote reader is integrated into a wearable device configured to display at least one of the UV light intensity, the UV dose, or a percentage of allowable UV dose.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of the implantable microchips.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote reader is configured to transmit at least one of the UV light intensity and the UV dose to a smart phone.
12. An ultra violet (UV) light dose monitoring system, comprising:
an implantable microchip for injection below a surface of a person's skin, the microchip comprising:
a power system that receives power via wireless energy transmission;
a data telemetry transmitter;
a first light sensor that absorbs UV light that passes through the skin;
non-volatile memory configured to store UV light intensity information; and
a processor in communication with the first light sensor to:
receive a light sensor signal indicative of a UV light intensity absorbed by the first light sensor,
store sensed UV light intensities in the non-volatile memory, and
in response to receiving a signal from a remote reader, cause the data telemetry transmitter to transmit at least one of the stored UV light intensities.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the microchip further includes a non-UV filter disposed over the first light sensor, the non-UV filter configured to allow UV light to pass while blocking other forms of light.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the microchip has a second light sensor that is covered by an UV filter configured to block UV light;
the first light sensor is configured to absorb light including UV light and output a total light intensity;
the second light sensor is configured to absorb light and outputs a non UV light intensity; and
the processor is further configured to calculate the UV light intensity by determining a difference between the total light intensity and the non UV light intensity.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first light sensor and the second light sensor each comprise one or more photovoltaic cells.
16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a remote reader, the remote reader comprising:
a power source that powers the remote reader and wirelessly delivers power to the microchip via wireless energy transmission;
a data telemetry receiver to receive the UV light intensities from the microchip; and
a processor configured to calculate a UV dose based on the UV light intensities.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the remote reader comprises a transparent panel, the transparent panel configured to align with a microchip disposed beneath the remote reader and allow UV light to pass through the remote reader and be detected by the first light sensor.
18. A method of UV light dose monitoring of a person using an implantable microchip having a sensor system under a surface of a person's skin, comprising:
absorbing, by a UV sensor implanted under the surface of the person's skin, UV light that passes through the person's skin, the implantable microchip comprising:
a solar cell;
a data telemetry transmitter;
the UV sensor configured to absorb UV light;
non-volatile memory configured to store UV light intensity information; and
a processor in communication with the UV sensor to:
receive a light sensor signal indicative of a UV light intensity absorbed by the UV sensor,
store sensed UV light intensities in the non-volatile memory, and in response to receiving a signal from a remote reader, cause the data telemetry transmitter to transmit one or more of the stored UV light intensities;
determining an amount of UV light absorbed by the UV sensor; and
storing the determined amount of UV light in the non-volatile memory in the implantable microchip.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising injecting the implantable microchip, which includes:
applying suction to a section of the person's skin to raise a section of skin;
piercing the section of skin from the side with a cannula containing the implantable microchip; and
injecting the implantable microchip into the section skin without damaging the person's skin above the microchip.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
positioning the remote reader in proximity to the microchip;
transmitting data indicative of a UV light intensity of the UV light absorbed by the microchip to the remote reader; and
determining a UV dose based on the data.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
periodically positioning the remote reader in proximity to the microchip;
obtaining the determined amount of UV light from the non-volatile memory in the microchip;
uploading the UV dose to a remote computing device; and
displaying at least one of the UV light intensity and the UV dose via the remote reader.