Sweat-Analyzing Patch Could Replace Blood Draws

Sweat-Analyzing Patch Could Replace Blood Draws
Oct-24-14
Researchers have developed a skin patch able gather medical information from an individual's sweat and transmit the data to a smartphone in near real-time—reducing the need for blood draws while also preventing injuries before they happen.

The lightweight, flexible patch, created by a team from the University of Cincinnati, is equipped with paper microfluidics that collect the biomarkers—such as amino acids, electrolytes and proteins—that are carried in sweat. A superabsorbent hydrogel integrated into the patch attracts and stores the sweat, which is then wicked through the tree-root pattern of microfluidic channels (the pattern helps to save space and still maximize the collection area). The current patch is equipped with a sodium sensor, voltage meter, communications antenna and a controller chip—though it has no power of its own. Instead, the patch is powered externally by an adjacent smartphone's signal.

The patch could have applications in preemie care, diabetes monitoring and idealizing medication dosages, as well as monitoring an athlete's electrolyte levels to help prevent cramping.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[UC.EDU]
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