Non-invasive hydration and electrolyte monitoring

Abstract

A system for detecting salt ion concentration, comprising a device further comprising a sensor having a carbon printed electrode on a flexible substrate with adhesive on one side (backside) and the circuit electronics to generate pulse signal stimuli and measure salt concentrations to determine hydration level of a person or a living being, wherein the device is a wearable device. The electrode can be made into different shapes changing the area as necessary, since it is a carbon printed electrode and is flexible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a sensor comprising a pair of electrodes, wherein the pair of electrodes are configured for reusability;   an attachment structure configured to be attachable to a band; and   wherein the device is configured to measure hydration of a user using an electrical resistance of a fluid of the user in contact with the pair of electrodes by providing direct current pulse signal stimuli.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrodes are in direct contact with the user. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure is configured such that the device is attached temporarily to the band of a wearable. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is on a flexible substrate comprising an adhesive for attaching the device to the band. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure is further configured for detachment from the band of a wearable and reattachment to the band of the wearable. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode and the pair of electrodes are reusable and are easy to clean. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is electrically connected to an ion sensing circuit comprising a microcontroller that generates the direct current pulse signal stimuli. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the ion sensing circuit is operable to detect an ion concentration of the fluid in real time. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the ion sensing circuit is configured to determine and monitor glucose levels and blood glucose changes in the user by establishing a relationship between glucose and electrolyte concentration. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrodes are carbon printed 2D flexible flat electrodes and are configurable to different shapes. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a wireless communication circuit that is operable to perform wireless transmission and reception. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a sensor comprising a pair of electrodes on a flexible substrate, the pair of electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; and   an ion sensing circuit;   wherein the pair of electrodes are arranged such that the first electrode is in proximity of the second electrode;   wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the ion sensing circuit comprising a microcontroller that generates a direct current pulse signal stimuli;   wherein the microcontroller reads resistance using the direct current pulse signal stimuli; and   wherein the microcontroller is operable to determine ion concentration in a fluid of a subject based on the resistance.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the ion sensing circuit further comprises:
 at least a first resistor;   a capacitor electrically connected in series with the at least the first resistor;   at least a second resistor electrically connected in parallel with the pair of electrodes; and   a first node which is a reading node, electrically connected to the second resistor connected to a second node which is in parallel to the capacitor and the first resistor, wherein the reading node is configured to read an output signal from the sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is operable to determine hydration level from detecting the ion concentration of the fluid of the subject, by measuring conductance of the fluid of the subject. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of electrodes are carbon printed on one side of the flexible substrate with adhesive on another side of the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of electrodes are operable to an area and a distance between the pair of electrodes wherein the area and the distance between the pair of electrodes is varied. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the reading node is electrically connected to a transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is operable to control an energy source and provide the direct current pulse signal stimuli, wherein the direct current pulse signal stimuli are in a frequency range from 0 to 200 Hertz. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises a wireless communication circuit that is operable to perform wireless transmission and reception. 
     
     
         20 . A band comprising:
 a device comprising a sensor comprising a pair of electrodes, wherein the pair of electrodes are in direct contact with a user;   wherein the pair of electrodes are configured for reusability;   wherein the device is configured to measure hydration level using an electrical resistance of a fluid of the user in contact with the pair of electrodes by providing direct current pulse signal stimuli; and   wherein the device is removably attached to the band.