Fabrication of a Wearable Temperature Sensing System for CIPA Patients

Rare diseases such as Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA) inhibit individuals from living independently such that they require special accommodations to perform daily activities. Based on the complications associated with the CIPA, we designed and fabricated an assistive technology device to inform individuals of the extreme temperature variation in their surrounding environment. The temperature sensing system utilizes a resistance temperature detector (RTD) incorporated in a glove apparatus that is capable of monitoring temperature variation while handling hot objects. The RTD is developed via microfabrication techniques, wherein chromium/nickel (Cr/Ni) metallization layers were photo-patterned on a glass substrate to serve as the sensing element. An Anderson loop circuit (ALC) is fabricated with surface mount devices to supply a constant current source for the RTD. This enables consistent resistance output signals to be obtained from the RTD. The wireless component consists of the ESP8266 Arduino microcontroller for measuring realtime voltage data from the RTD, which is transmitted to a smartphone via a web server. The RTD system exhibits a linear dynamic response in the temperature range of 26 degrees C and 50 degrees C with a correlation coefficient of 0.996.