Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure
Chronic monitoring of bladder activity and urine volume is essential for patients suffering from urinary dysfunctions. However, due to the anatomy and dynamics of the bladder, chronic and precise monitoring of bladder activity remains a challenge. Here, we propose a new sensing mechanism that measur...
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doaj-843b01214ce144a0a291acbb2da4fd792020-11-24T22:01:24ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202018-07-01187228810.3390/s18072288s18072288Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder StructureMi Kyung Kim0Sungwoo Lee1Inug Yoon2Geon Kook3Yeon Su Jung4Sarah S. M. Bawazir5Cesare Stefanini6Hyunjoo J. Lee7School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaBiomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAEBiomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAESchool of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, KoreaChronic monitoring of bladder activity and urine volume is essential for patients suffering from urinary dysfunctions. However, due to the anatomy and dynamics of the bladder, chronic and precise monitoring of bladder activity remains a challenge. Here, we propose a new sensing mechanism that measures the bladder volume using a resistive ladder network with contact switches. Instead of measuring the impedance between the electrode continuously, the proposed sensor provides a digitized output (‘on’ or ‘off’) when the bladder volume reaches a certain threshold value. We present simple proof-of-concept sensors which compare the discrete-mode operation to the continuous-mode operation. In addition, by using multiple pairs of this contact-mode switch in a resistor ladder structure, we demonstrate monitoring of the bladder volume in four discrete steps using an idealized balloon and an ex vivo pig’s bladder. We implemented the resistive ladder network using a conductive polypyrrole/agarose hydrogel composite which exhibits a Young’s modulus comparable to that of the bladder wall. Compared to the continuous-mode operation, the proposed sensing mechanism is less susceptible to drift due to material degradation and environmental factors.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/7/2288bladder volumebladder monitoringswitch contact moderesistor structuresmall strain |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mi Kyung Kim Sungwoo Lee Inug Yoon Geon Kook Yeon Su Jung Sarah S. M. Bawazir Cesare Stefanini Hyunjoo J. Lee |
spellingShingle |
Mi Kyung Kim Sungwoo Lee Inug Yoon Geon Kook Yeon Su Jung Sarah S. M. Bawazir Cesare Stefanini Hyunjoo J. Lee Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure Sensors bladder volume bladder monitoring switch contact mode resistor structure small strain |
author_facet |
Mi Kyung Kim Sungwoo Lee Inug Yoon Geon Kook Yeon Su Jung Sarah S. M. Bawazir Cesare Stefanini Hyunjoo J. Lee |
author_sort |
Mi Kyung Kim |
title |
Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure |
title_short |
Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure |
title_full |
Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure |
title_fullStr |
Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polypyrrole/Agarose Hydrogel-Based Bladder Volume Sensor with a Resistor Ladder Structure |
title_sort |
polypyrrole/agarose hydrogel-based bladder volume sensor with a resistor ladder structure |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sensors |
issn |
1424-8220 |
publishDate |
2018-07-01 |
description |
Chronic monitoring of bladder activity and urine volume is essential for patients suffering from urinary dysfunctions. However, due to the anatomy and dynamics of the bladder, chronic and precise monitoring of bladder activity remains a challenge. Here, we propose a new sensing mechanism that measures the bladder volume using a resistive ladder network with contact switches. Instead of measuring the impedance between the electrode continuously, the proposed sensor provides a digitized output (‘on’ or ‘off’) when the bladder volume reaches a certain threshold value. We present simple proof-of-concept sensors which compare the discrete-mode operation to the continuous-mode operation. In addition, by using multiple pairs of this contact-mode switch in a resistor ladder structure, we demonstrate monitoring of the bladder volume in four discrete steps using an idealized balloon and an ex vivo pig’s bladder. We implemented the resistive ladder network using a conductive polypyrrole/agarose hydrogel composite which exhibits a Young’s modulus comparable to that of the bladder wall. Compared to the continuous-mode operation, the proposed sensing mechanism is less susceptible to drift due to material degradation and environmental factors. |
topic |
bladder volume bladder monitoring switch contact mode resistor structure small strain |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/7/2288 |
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