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A harmonic-wave bio-thermal method for continuous monitoring skin thermal conductivity and capillary perfusion rate

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Abstract

The revelation of thermal energy exchange mechanism of human body is challenging yet worthwhile, because it can clearly explain the changes in human symptoms and health status. Understanding, the heat transfer of the skin is significant because the skin is the foremost organ for the energy exchange between the human body and the environment. In order to diagnose the physiological conditions of human skin without causing any damage, it is necessary to use a non-invasive measurement technique by means of a conformal flexible sensor. The harmonic method can minimize the thermal-induced injury to the skin due to its low heat generating properties. A novel type of computational theory assessing skin thermal conductivity, blood perfusion rate of capillaries in the dermis, and superficial subcutaneous tissues was formed by combining the multi-medium thermal diffusion model and the bio-thermal model (Pennes equation). The skins of the hand back of six healthy subjects were measured. It was found that the results revealed no consistent changes in thermal conductivity were observed across genders and ages. The measured blood perfusion rates were within the range of human capillary flow. It was found that female subjects had a higher perfusion rate range (0.0058–0.0061 s−1) than male subjects (0.0032–0.0049 s−1), which is consistent with invasive medical studies about the gender difference in blood flow rates and stimulated effects in relaxation situations.

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Acknowledgements

This work received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52222602 and 52201261), Bei**g Nova Program (No. 20220484170), Ningbo 3315 Innovative Teams Program (No. 2019A-14-C), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. FRF-TP-22-001C1 and FRF-EYIT-23-05).

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Author notes

  1. Yuxin Ouyang, Jie Lin, and Lin Qiu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Bei**g, Bei**g, 100083, China

    Yuxin Ouyang, Yanhui Feng & Lin Qiu

  2. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, China

    Jie Lin

  3. Bei**g Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100049, China

    Jia**g Pei

  4. Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Bei**g, 100084, China

    Rui Sui

  5. Institute of Analysis and Testing, Bei**g Academy of Science and Technology, Bei**g, 100089, China

    Di Liu

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  1. Yuxin Ouyang
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  2. Jie Lin
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  5. Di Liu
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  7. Lin Qiu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Di Liu, Yanhui Feng or Lin Qiu.

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Ouyang, Y., Lin, J., Pei, J. et al. A harmonic-wave bio-thermal method for continuous monitoring skin thermal conductivity and capillary perfusion rate. Nano Res. 17, 4420–4427 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6278-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6278-6

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