Abstract: A power transfer-based flexible sensing platform that can be used in a fluid environment includes at least one metallic thin film structure, with a polymeric encapsulation that protects the metallic thin film structure from the fluid environment, a smart hydrogel sandwiched between layers of the metallic thin film structure, the smart hydrogel being configured to swell or shrink in response to stimulus, and an AC power source or signal generator electrically connected to the at least one metallic film structure. The metallic thin film can include first and second U-shaped metallic thin film structures, each encapsulated, where the smart hydrogel is sandwiched between them. An AC power or signal source is electrically connected to one of the U-shaped structures, causing power to be inductively transferred to the other. Measurement of the induced power or other signal can be used to determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: Microfluidics sensor devices having an array of smart polymer hydrogel features for resistive channel analyte sensing via hydrogel swelling and de-swelling, and methods of manufacturing and using the same. Inexpensive, rapid-responsive, point-of-use sensors for monitoring disease biomarkers or environmental contaminants in, for example, drinking water, employ smart polymer hydrogels as recognition elements that can be tailored to detect almost any target analyte. Fabrication involves mask-templated UV photopolymerization to produce an array of smart hydrogel pillars, with large surface area-to-volume ratios, inside sub-millimeter channels located on microfluidics devices. The pillars swell or shrink upon contact aqueous solutions containing a target analyte, thereby changing the resistance of the microfluidic channel to ionic current flow when a bias voltage is applied to the system. Hence resistance measurements can be used to transduce hydrogel swelling changes into electrical signals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and sensor devices for identifying one or more changes in a stimulus-responsive hydrogel include a sensor device having (i) a sensing structure and (ii) a stimulus-responsive hydrogel associated with a first side of the sensing structure. The sensing structure includes a flexible thin film polymer and an electric sensing element capable of electric impedance change, and the hydrogel is configured to dimensionally change in response to predefined stimuli such that a dimensional change of the hydrogel causes a change in an impedance property of the electric sensing element. Systems including such a sensor device can additionally include a meter in electrical communication with the sensor device to identify changes in the impedance properties of the structure and/or a catheter sheath configured for placement within an in vivo environment and is sized and shaped to receive the sensor device within a lumen thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.