Minimally invasive wireless sensing devices and methods
A sensing device allows detection of biological quantities in ways that are minimally invasive. Micrometer or nanometer sized needles allow sensing of bodily fluids in a minimally invasive method. The device comprises electronics and power harvesting. Antennas or coils allow communication and power harvesting from an external device, which can be attached to smartphones to allow operation of a camera and camera light for biosensing.
1. A system comprising:
a sensing device comprising:
a substrate;
a container on a top surface of the substrate;
a plurality of needles on a bottom surface of the substrate, the plurality of needles connected to the container and configured to allow a fluid flow from needle tips to the container;
at least one sensor on the substrate, the at least one sensor configured to analyze the fluid in the container; and
an antenna or coil on the substrate; and
a snap-on accessory, configured to attach on an external reader device, wherein:
the external reader device comprises a camera and a camera light and is configured to communicate with the sensing device through the antenna or coil, and
the snap-on accessory comprises filters, the filters configured to filter electromagnetic radiation from the camera light to the sensing device and from the sensing device to the camera.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an adhesive and is configured to attach to skin.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each needle of the plurality of needles has a diameter less than 100 micrometer.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each needle of the plurality of needles has a diameter less than 100 nanometer.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container contains a drug and the fluid flow is from the container to the needle tips.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of subcontainers, each subcontainer containing a drug different from other subcontainers.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuation module configured to actuate the fluid flow.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna or coil is further configured to receive power from the external reader device.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one photovoltaic cell on the substrate, the at least one photovoltaic cell configured to provide power to the at least one sensor.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is silicon-on-insulator.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is configured to be implanted in a biological body.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one first and second sensors, the first sensor configured to detect a signal different from the second sensor.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external reader device is a smartphone.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the smartphone comprises an app configured to operate the sensing device and allow communication between the sensing device and the external reader device.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensing device is configured to be implanted in a biological body and the app is further configured to detect a location of the implanted sensing device through the antenna or coil.