Sen, Kantareddy, and their colleagues at MIT, including Rahul Bhattacharryya and Sanjay Sarma, along with Joshua Siegel at Michigan State University, have published their results today in the journal IEEE Sensors. Kantareddy, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. ![]() “This could prevent rashes and some infections like urinary tract infections, in both aging and infant populations,” adds collaborator Sai Nithin R. ![]() “It would be convenient in these cases for a caregiver to be notified that a patient, particularly in a multibed hospital, needs changing.” “Diapers are used not just for babies, but for aging populations, or patients who are bedridden and unable to take care of themselves,” Sen says. Pankhuri Sen, a research assistant in MIT’s AutoID Laboratory, envisions that the sensor could also be integrated into adult diapers, for patients who might be unaware or too embarrassed to report themselves that a change is needed. The new sensor may be especially useful for nurses working in neonatal units and caring for multiple babies at a time. Over time, smart diapers may help record and identify certain health problems, such as signs of constipation or incontinence. They estimate that the sensor costs less than 2 cents to manufacture, making it a low-cost, disposable alternative to other smart diaper technology. The researchers say the design is the first demonstration of hydrogel as a functional antenna element for moisture sensing in diapers using RFID. When the hydrogel is wet, the material expands and becomes slightly conductive - enough to trigger the RFID tag to send a radio signal to an RFID reader up to 1 meter away. The sensor consists of a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, that is placed below a layer of super absorbent polymer, a type of hydrogel that is typically used in diapers to soak up moisture. When the sensor detects dampness in the diaper, it sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer. Now MIT researchers have developed a “smart” diaper embedded with a moisture sensor that can alert a caregiver when a diaper is wet. But if worn too long, a wet diaper can cause painful rashes, and miserable babies - and parents. For some infants, a wet diaper is cause for an instant, vociferous demand to be changed, while other babies may be unfazed and happy to haul around the damp cargo for lengthy periods without complaint.
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