WO-2026096788-A1 - NANOGENERATOR DEVICE FOR MEASURING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF BLOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS

Abstract

A device for measuring electrical conductivity of target ("Target") comprising blood, a body fluid, a body tissue, a biological substance, a liquid or a solid material, comprising a hollow body having a closed end and an open end; a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) disposed within the hollow body; the TENG comprising first and second discs disposed within the hollow body, wherein the first disc is disposed adjacent to the closed end of the hollow body and the second disc is spaced apart from the first disc to define a target chamber within the hollow body; a third disc spaced apart from the second disc towards the open end to define a gap between the second and third discs; a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive material disposed on a side of the third disc opposite the gap; and a second electrode comprising a Target in the target chamber.

Inventors

• WENYUN, Lu
• LUO, JIANZHE
• WELLS, ALAN, H.
• ALAVI, AMIR

Assignees

• UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251030

Priority Date

20241030

Claims (20)

1. What is claimed is:
2. 1. A device for measuring electrical conductivity of target (“Target”) comprising blood, a body fluid, a body tissue, a biological substance, a liquid or a solid material, comprising:
3. a hollow body having a closed end and an open end;
4. a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) disposed within the hollow body; the TENG comprising first and second discs disposed within the hollow body, wherein the first disc is disposed adjacent to the closed end of the hollow body and the second disc is spaced apart from the first disc to define a target chamber within the hollow body;
5. a third disc spaced apart from the second disc towards the open end to define a gap between the second and third discs;
6. a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive material disposed on a side of the third disc opposite the gap; and
7. a second electrode comprising a Target in the target chamber.
8. 2 The device for measuring electrical conductivity' of a Target of claim 1, further comprising a push trigger cap disposed on the open end of the hollow body, wherein the push trigger cap has a shaft connected between the push trigger cap and the first electrode.
9. 3 The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, further comprising a transfer tube for transferring the Target from outside the hollow body into the target chamber.
10. 4 The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second discs comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
11. 5 The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 2, wherein the push trigger cap is spring-loaded.
12. 6 The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, wherein the third disc comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
13. 7 The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material of the first electrode comprises an electrically conductive metal or is selected from a group of copper, silver, gold, platinum, aluminum, iron and steel. 8. The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, further comprising a voltmeter in communication wirelessly or by wire to the target chamber.
14. 9. The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, wherein the TENG provides electronic-free wireless transmission of data sensed by the device.
15. 10. The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 1, wherein at an initial stage, the third disc and the second disc have no contact, and there is no charge on their surfaces; wherein pressing a spring-loaded push trigger cap causes a shaft to move down, bringing the second and third discs into contact and facilitating surface charge transfer therebetween where electrons are transferred from one or more surfaces of the second disc to one or more surfaces of the third disc whilst there being no potential difference between the first and second electrodes; wherein as the shaft moves up, the second and third discs separate, creating a potential difference with an open-circuit voltage increasing until it reaches a maximum value corresponding to a time it takes for the shaft to return to an original position; wherein when the shaft moves down, voltage decreases, reaching zero when the third disc and the second disc are in contact and wherein in each loading and unloading cycle, the spring in the push trigger maintains a consistent force and a sole variable within the TENG device is electrical conductivity of the Target in the target chamber.
16. 11. A device for measuring electrical conductivity of target (“Target”) comprising blood, a body fluid, a body tissue, a biological substance, a liquid or a solid material, comprising:
17. a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) comprising first and second discs, wherein the first disc is spaced apart from the second disc to define a target channel;
18. a third disc spaced apart from the second disc to define a gap between the second and third discs; a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive material disposed on a side of the third disc opposite the gap; and
19. a second electrode comprising a Target in the target chamber.
20. 12. The device for measuring electrical conductivity of a Target of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second discs comprises polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

Description

NANOGENERATOR DEVICE FOR MEASURING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF BLOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority benefit under 35 U. S. C. § 119(e) of U. S. Provisional Application No. 63/714,123 filed October 30, 2024, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT [0002] This invention was made with government support under grant # 2235494 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in the invention. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE Technical field [0003] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of devices for measuring electrical conductivity of a target substance such as blood, a body fluid, a body tissue, a biological substance, a liquid or a solid material and, more specifically, to triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices for measuring electrical conductivity of such a target where the target comprises an electrode of the TENG device. Background [0004] Blood electrical conductivity is a valuable metric for assessing various health parameters and detecting medical conditions. The blood conductivity is predominantly governed by the concentration of essential electrolytes, notably sodium and chloride ions, along with other blood substances including metabolites (e.g. urea), plasma proteins, and nutrients (e.g. glucose). These electrolytes and other substances are integral to a multitude of physiological processes. Monitoring tools for blood conductivity can facilitate assessment of vital biological parameters such as haematocrit (Hct),[l] erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),[2] cardiac output, [3] and even conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. [4] Additionally, aberrations in blood conductivity can signal a range of medical conditions, from de-hydration and electrolyte imbalances to more complex disorders. Thus, precise and efficient techniques for blood conductivity measurement hold paramount importance in both clinical and research domains. The existing literature abounds with studies emphasizing the adaptability of blood conductivity as a versatile tool replete with significant medical potential. For instance, Abdalla et al. [5] explored the utility of blood conductivity as an indicator to monitor physiological changes in human organism properties. Altaf et al. [6] studied the dielectric proper-ties of human blood, unveiling their utility in estimating conditions like renal failure in patients. Moreover, Istuk et al. [7] studied the correlation between blood conductivity and blood counts, accentuating the potential for employing blood conductivity investigations in medical contexts. These findings collectively highlight the multifaceted applications of blood conductivity in the realm of medical research. [0005] However, the knowledge of human blood conductivity remains constrained due to measurement challenges, including electrode polarization, limited access to human blood samples, and the complexities associated with blood temperature maintenance. Measuring conductivity at frequencies below 100 Hz is particularly important for gaining a deeper understanding of the blood electrical properties and fundamental biological processes. [10,11] Many of the conventional techniques for measuring blood conductivity predominantly hinge on bulky laboratory or microprocessor-based equipment, constraining their suitability for point-of-care (POC) and remote monitoring applications. Conventional methods also involve labor-intensive processes, including invasive blood extraction, often uncomfortable for patients. In addition, these approaches tend to be time-consuming, making real-time monitoring unfeasible. The constraints inherent to the conventional techniques underscore the urgent necessity for innovative, portable, and minimally invasive methodologies for blood conductivity evaluation. As the fields of nanotechnology and microfluidics continue to advance, there is a growing opportunity to develop lab-on-a-chip devices capable of surmounting these constraints, thereby facilitating efficient, POC blood conductivity assessments. These technologies could potentially contribute to transforming healthcare by offering quick and convenient diagnostics, ultimately improving patient outcomes and the effectiveness of medical services. [0006] The present disclosure presents a portable nanogenerator device for measuring the electrical conductivity of blood, body fluids, tissue, biological substances, liquids and solid materials. The biologic substances can be human or non-human. The proposed device employs blood, tissue, biological substances, liquids and solid materials as conductive substances within its built-in triboelectric nanogenerator system. The voltage generated by this nanogenerator device is used to determine the electrical conductivity of the samples. The self-powering functionality of the device eliminates the need for complex embedded electronics and external electrodes.