Disposable Planar Microwave Sensor for Real-time Monitoring of Lubricant Depletion on Lubricant-infused Coated Medical Implants

This paper proposes a passive disposable planar microwave resonator sensor for real-time monitoring of lubricant depletion on lubricant-infused surfaces. These surface coatings offer a state-of-the-art solution to minimize the complications associated with medical implants caused by non-specific adhesion of blood components and bacteria. The stability of the lubricant layer determines the function of the lubricant-infused coating. It is an essential factor that needs to be considered when applying these coatings on medical implants. The proposed passive split-ring resonator (SRR)-based sensor introduces the real-time monitoring of the thickness and evaporation rate of the lubricant layer. The performance and sensitivity of the sensor have been verified in simulation and measurement. The design is capable of monitoring lubricant presence in porous and no-porous surfaces. Additionally, using this SRR-based sensor, the drastic depletion zones on the surface can be detected.