Skin Color Monitor
Client: John G. Webster, Ph.D.
Advisor: William L. Murphy, Ph.D.
Team Hotflash
Jack Ho – Team Leader
Joseph Yuen – BWIG
Brian Ginter – BSAC
Patrick Kurkiewicz – Communications
Outline








Problem Statement
Background
Current Devices
Design Constraints
Design Ideas
Design Matrix
Circuitry
Future Work
Problem Statement

Detecting hot flashes


Wearable monitoring device


Change in skin color
Comfort
Used in therapeutic drug testing
Background Information

Hot flashes



Occur during menopause
Are marked by feeling of intense heat and sweating
Device



When capillaries fill with blood, skin changes color
Device measures differences in skin color, denoting a
hot flash
Device stores data for use in research and drug
testing
Current Devices

BIOLOG Hot Flash Monitor





Heavy (200 g)
Bulky (3.3 x 7 x 13 cm)
Runs wires from electrodes to belt monitor
device
24 hour battery life
Expensive
Monitor - $2200
 Software - $2000

http://www.ufiservingscience.com/HFMon1.html
Design Constraints

Size


Weight


No sharp edges, non-irritant
Price


< 50 g
Comfort & Attachment


< 6 cm x 6 cm x 1 cm
< $7 USD
Appearance

Small, Sleek, Smooth
Design 1 (barrier)

Material


Hard Plastic
Distance from Skin

Ideally 2mm
Pros and Cons
Pros
 Firm sturdy shape

More durable
Cons
 Harder, more rigid
plastic
 Harder to shape
 Still could be
more focused
Design 2 (cave design)

Material


Firm rubber (like an eraser)
Distance from Skin

Ideally 2mm
Pros and Cons
Pros



Smooth Shape
(less noticeable)
Rubbery (more
comfortable
Low Cost (parts
about $5)
Cons
 Light could be
more focused.
 Monitor may
bend/flex (causing
different readings
from PD)
Design 3 (laser)

Material

Hard plastic
Pros and Cons
Pros


Light source and
receiver is on
same side
No barrier needed
– all light received
will be from skin
reflection
Cons


Laser diode may
be expensive
Laser potentially
dangerous
Design Matrix
Comfort (0.15)
Cost (0.2)
Ease of construction
(0.15)
Light Detection (0.25)
Safety (0.15)
Durability (0.1)
Total
Cave
Barrier
Laser
9
7
7
6
8
6
6
2
4
7
9
7
7.6
5
7
8
6.45
6
5
6
4.75
Circuitry

Base circuitry



LED’s
Photodiodes
Op Amps
Future Work





Discuss with client
Choose design
Work on circuit model
Begin testing
Prototype
Questions?
References

UFI Hot flash monitoring tools, electrodes, and accessories.
http://www.ufiservingscience.com/HFMon1.html