Amazon patents skin sensor that tracks body molecules with radio waves
Amazon has been granted a patent for a wearable device that uses low-power radio waves to measure the concentration of specific molecules in the human body without needles. The system uses an array of five antennas arranged in a cross pattern to send signals into the skin and detect how they change. It also includes software that adjusts the readings if the user moves, ensuring the data remains accurate even if the sensor shifts on the body.
In the filing’s own words
Data about concentration of one or more types of molecules present within a human body are determined noninvasively using radio frequency (RF) signals. RF signals at several different frequencies and at very low power levels are emitted at different times from different antennas of a sensor device. In one implementation, an antenna array comprises five antennas in a quincunx arrangement. The sensor device may also include photoplethysmographs or other sensors. Signals from the sensor device are used to determine compensated data that compensates for motion of the sensor device with respect to the user. This motion may be transient, the result of the user repositioning the sensor device, and so forth. The compensated data may then be used to determine the concentration of one or more types of molecules within the user.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system comprising: an antenna array comprising a central antenna and a set of peripheral antennas; a support structure that retains the antenna array proximate to a user; radio frequency (RF) circuitry coupled to the antenna array; a memory, storing computer-executable instructions; and one or more hardware processors that execute the computer-executable instructions to: operate the RF circuitry to determine first signal data associated with the central antenna; operate the RF circuitry to determine a first set of signal data, wherein each signal of the first set of signal data is associated with a respective antenna of the set of peripheral antennas; determine one or more compensation values based on a comparison of the first signal data and the first set of signal data; and determine, based on the first signal data, the first set of signal data, and the one or more compensation values, compensated data.
Facts
- Company
- Amazon (AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
- Official title
- Non-invasive radio frequency biosensor
- Patent number
- US12765793B1
- Application number
- 17656777
- Filed
- Mar 28, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A61B 5/05 Human necessitiesA61B 5/145 Human necessitiesA61B 5/7203 Human necessitiesA61B 5/7278 Human necessitiesH01Q 1/273 Electricity & electronicsA61B 5/02416 Human necessitiesMore from Amazon in Health & body
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.