US 12,220,346 B2
Applicator with thermal contact sensors
Yotam Zimmerman, Hadera (IL)
Assigned to LIGHTFECTIVE LTD., Caesarea (IL)
Filed by LIGHTFECTIVE LTD., Caesarea (IL)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/029,218.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/935,696, filed on Nov. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153349 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61N 5/06 (2006.01); H05K 1/02 (2006.01); A61F 7/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/11 (2006.01); H05K 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 7/00 (2013.01) [A61B 18/18 (2013.01); A61N 5/0616 (2013.01); A61N 5/0625 (2013.01); H05K 1/028 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00011 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00023 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00041 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00089 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00095 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00452 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00464 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00714 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00815 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00886 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0052 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0054 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0056 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0073 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0095 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0282 (2013.01); A61F 2007/029 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0295 (2013.01); A61N 2005/0643 (2013.01); A61N 2005/066 (2013.01); H05K 1/0201 (2013.01); H05K 1/111 (2013.01); H05K 1/16 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10151 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of thermal contact detection, comprising:
applying to a skin of a subject an applicator containing a thermal contact sensor that comprises:
a metal frame;
a can-like housing having housing walls and a bottom which is thinner than the housing walls;
at least one temperature sensor and a heater; and
a flexible printed circuit board including enhanced solder coated pads configured to receive the at least one temperature sensor and the heater;
operating the thermal contact sensor in one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode to determine whether the thermal contact sensor is in contact with the skin of the subject;
wherein operating the thermal contact sensor in the first mode comprises operating the heater to maintain a temperature difference between the skin and the metal frame;
wherein operating the thermal contact sensor in the second mode comprises measuring power supplied to the thermal contact sensor; and
wherein operating the thermal contact sensor in the third mode comprises measuring a difference in a thermal inertia of the thermal contact sensor in an idle state and in contact with the skin, comprising:
heating the can-like housing with the heater;
measuring the time it takes the heater to raise the temperature of the thermal contact sensor from 15° C. to 38° C.;
if the elapsed time it takes the heater to raise the temperature of the thermal contact sensor is less than 400 msec, determining that there is no contact of the thermal contact sensor with the skin; and
if the elapsed time it takes the heater to raise the temperature of the thermal contact sensor is more than 600 msec, determining that there is a contact of the thermal contact sensor with the skin.