Abstract: A wound dressing for wireless communication with a transceiver includes a radio-frequency antenna circuit disposed on a flexible substrate, and an electrochemical moisture sensor circuit disposed on a surface of the flexible substrate. An adhesive is provided to attach the wound dressing skin of a user. The electrochemical moisture sensor is arranged between the adhesive and the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A wound dressing for wireless communication with a transceiver includes a radio-frequency antenna circuit disposed on a flexible substrate, and an electrochemical moisture sensor circuit disposed on a surface of the flexible substrate. An adhesive is provided to attach the wound dressing skin of a user. The electrochemical moisture sensor is arranged between the adhesive and the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A wound dressing for wireless communication with a transceiver includes a radio-frequency antenna circuit disposed on a flexible substrate, and an electrochemical moisture sensor circuit disposed on a surface of the flexible substrate. An adhesive is provided to attach the wound dressing skin of a user. The electrochemical moisture sensor is arranged between the adhesive and the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A Wound Moisture and Assessment System includes a flexible coupon containing one or more electrochemical moisture sensors for measuring a moisture profile of a wound. The coupon is activated by a wireless RF scanner that provides power to the coupon for taking moisture measurements, receives the moisture measurements therefrom, and transmits the measurements to a computing device. The moisture measurements can be represented as a wound moisture map that allows a patient or caregiver to assess the health and healing progress of a wound such as an ulcer.

Abstract: Devices and methods for assessing ulceration risk in a tissue. Some embodiments include a device having a scan head on an extension neck extending from housing and having range of motion relative to the housing. The scan head includes light-emitting system that alternately emits light at different selected wavelengths into the tissue, and a photodetector that generates an electrical signal based on the receive light. A processor calculates regional-perfusion-index (RPI) data based on the electrical signal. Some embodiments provide a tissue-vibration mechanism to help measure mechano-transduction induced recovery from vibratory stimulation for determining short-term metabolic deficit. In some embodiments, the scan head has a topological feature (such as one or more grooves, holes, bumps and/or ridges) that provides pressure-change stimulation for measuring vascular recovery from pressure changes.

Abstract: A Wound Moisture and Assessment System includes a flexible coupon containing one or more electrochemical moisture sensors for measuring a moisture profile of a wound. The coupon is activated by a wireless RF scanner that provides power to the coupon for taking moisture measurements, receives the moisture measurements therefrom, and transmits the measurements to a computing device. The moisture measurements can be represented as a wound moisture map that allows a patient or caregiver to assess the health and healing progress of a wound such as an ulcer.

Abstract: Miniature pumps for dispensing a volume a flowable substance are described. One pump embodiment includes an environmentally-responsive plug layer that can contract in size, e.g., when exposed to an environmental change such as temperature, to allow an activation solution to flow to a layer of expandable material, such as a superporous hydrogel. Expansion of the expandable material urges a diaphragm into a chamber that holds the dispensable fluid, gas, or gel, forcing the fluid, gas or gel out of the pump.

Abstract: Miniature pumps for dispensing a volume a flowable substance are described. One pump embodiment includes an environmentally-responsive plug layer that can contract in size, e.g., when exposed to an environmental change such as temperature, to allow an activation solution to flow to a layer of expandable material, such as a superporous hydrogel. Expansion of the expandable material urges a diaphragm into a chamber that holds the dispensable fluid, gas, or gel, forcing the fluid, gas or gel out of the pump.

Abstract: A method of making a gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The method includes forming a flexible printed circuit on a polymeric film, attaching thin air data sensor to the printed circuit and attaching a flexible substrate to form a conformal air data sensor. The method may also include attaching a data acquisition circuit to the printed circuit and may still further include providing an optical interconnection between the air data sensor and the data acquisition circuit.

Abstract: A method of making a gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The method includes forming a flexible printed circuit on a polymeric film, attaching thin air data sensor to the printed circuit and attaching a flexible substrate to form a conformal air data sensor. The method may also include attaching a data acquisition circuit to the printed circuit and may still further include providing an optical interconnection between the air data sensor and the data acquisition circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the condition of engine lubricating oil includes a sensor having a plurality of spaced apart electrode pairs on a nonconductive polymer film. The sensor is operatively associated with an oil filter, which provides retro-fit capability and easy access for servicing and replacement. The multi-electrode pair design averages signal output to reduce operational electromagnetic interference noise. A forcing-function waveform reactive circuit is applied to the sensor input electrode as a common voltage potential. The output current from the sensor electrodes is then relayed to a current follower amplifier, which converts the output current into an equivalent voltage for comparison with predetermined values. Based on the voltage values, the on-board sensing system will determine the oil's condition, and will trigger a trouble code if the equivalent voltage falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The assembly also includes a fiber optic communication link, a battery, a data acquisition subsystem, and a flexible printed circuit, all between the substrate and the cover layer. The cover layer is formed of a polymer film.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining hydraulic pressure within a pressure sensing fluid filter assembly includes a pressure-sensing polymer thick film transducer associated with an oil filter assembly. Preferably, pressure sensors are provided on both the oil inlet and outlet areas of the filter. The pressure-sensing transducers send signals to a control module, which may compare pressure readouts at the inlet and outlet sides of the filter. Based on the pressure in the filter, the on-board sensing system will detect a clogged filter condition, and if necessary, the control module will send a signal to an in-dash display terminal, to indicate that an oil change is needed.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the condition of engine lubricating oil includes a sensor having a plurality of spaced apart electrode pairs on a nonconductive polymer film. The sensor is operatively associated with an oil filter, which provides retro-fit capability and easy access for servicing and replacement. The multi-electrode pair design averages signal output to reduce operational electromagnetic interference noise. A forcing-function waveform reactive circuit is applied to the sensor input electrode as a common voltage potential. The output current from the sensor electrodes is then relayed to a current follower amplifier, which converts the output current into an equivalent voltage for comparison with predetermined values. Based on the voltage values, the on-board sensing system will determine the oil's condition, and will trigger a trouble code if the equivalent voltage falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining hydraulic pressure within a pressure sensing fluid filter assembly includes a pressure-sensing polymer thick film transducer associated with an oil filter assembly. Preferably, pressure sensors are provided on both the oil intlet and outlet areas of the filter. The pressure-sensing transducers send signals to a control module, which may compare pressure readouts at the inlet and outlet sides of the filter. Based on the pressure in the filter, the on-board sensing system will detect a clogged filter condition, and if necessary, the control module will send a signal to an in-dash display terminal, to indicate that an oil change is needed.

Abstract: A system and method for determining load weight status for a vehicle, such as a rail car, is provided. The system may include an acceleration sensor secured to the vehicle, and a processor. The acceleration sensor is operable to obtain a vibration input associated with the vehicle, and the processor is operable to determine the load weight status from the vibration input using time domain processing. The time domain processing may include performing a histogram analysis on the vibration input, applying a selective threshold detection scheme, and performing a multi-timeslot voting procedure, according to one embodiment.

Abstract: A gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The assembly also includes a fiber optic communication link, a battery, a data acquisition subsystem, and a flexible printed circuit, all between the substrate and the cover layer. The cover layer is formed of a polymer film.

Abstract: An acoustic rotor monitor that is an autonomous self-powered measurement instrument which can detect embedded and hidden fatigue cracks in remotely inaccessible devices such as helicopter rotor system components. A predictive maintenance-related problem for rotor craft is the detection of fatigue cracks as a continuous real-time monitoring process under dynamic rotor system loading conditions. The rotor monitor focuses on the embedding an acoustic emission-based smart sensor directly into the rotor system to measure the high frequency stress waves indicating that a structural crack has propagated as a “self-powered” measurement without reducing structural integrity.

Abstract: An acoustic rotor monitor that is an autonomous self-powered measurement instrument which can detect embedded and hidden fatigue cracks in remotely inaccessible devices such as helicopter rotor system components. A predictive maintenance-related problem for rotor craft is the detection of fatigue cracks as a continuous real-time monitoring process under dynamic rotor system loading conditions. The rotor monitor focuses on the embedding an acoustic emission-based smart sensor directly into the rotor system to measure the high frequency stress waves indicating that a structural crack has propagated as a "self-powered" measurement without reducing structural integrity.

Abstract: An acoustic rotor monitor that is an autonomous self-powered measurement instrument which can detect embedded and hidden fatigue cracks in remotely inaccessible devices such as helicopter rotor system components. A predictive maintenance-related problem for rotor craft is the detection of fatigue cracks as a continuous real-time monitoring process under dynamic rotor system loading conditions. The rotor monitor focuses on the embedding an acoustic emission-based smart sensor directly into the rotor system to measure the high frequency stress waves indicating that a structural crack has propagated as a "self-powered" measurement without reducing structural integrity.