Universal sensor
A group of researchers from Northwestern University, led by John A. Rogers, has created a skin sensor capable of detecting a number of parameters. It records the chemical composition of sweat, estimating the amount of electrolytes in it. This allows you to evaluate the body's response to training in athletes or in patients undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke. The results of the analysis can be obtained in real time using a special application on a smartphone.
The appearance of the sensor.
The sensor is a soft elastic microfluidic plate that needs to be glued to the skin.
Human sweat carries a lot of information that can be used to judge the state of the body. It is useful in sports medicine, as it helps to develop an optimal training and nutrition regime for professional athletes. According to the composition of sweat, you can track not only the physical condition of the body, but also cognitive functions.
The sensor is effectively used in rehabilitation medicine. If you stick several devices on symmetrical parts of the body, you can compare data from both halves of the body and use them to track the recovery process after a stroke. The change in the composition of sweat is an indicator of the body's reaction to the course of rehabilitation therapy.
The sensor is able to quantify the level of chlorides, glucose, lactic acid, urea and creatinine, as well as lead and arsenic in sweat. In addition, it determines the acidity of sweat. Interestingly, the data is collected in real time, which helps to track the dynamics of changes and respond to them as quickly as possible. Another unique feature of the sensor is the work under water – this is relevant for athletes training in the pool.
Stretchable and soft, the sensor does not cause any discomfort when worn.
The resources of the new sensor are not limited to analyzing the composition of sweat. Biosensors in its composition allow you to perceive vibration. This function is very useful for the recovery of speech disorders after a stroke.
Traditionally, speech therapists use microphones for training, but often they cannot distinguish the patient's voice from extraneous noise and give interference. A sensor glued to the skin in the projection of the larynx captures the vibration of the vocal cords, and provides speech therapists with more accurate data on the operation of the speech apparatus, devoid of interference, and registers many other parameters.
Doctors of rehabilitation centers often face the difficulty of "losing" a patient from sight during the absence of training. A portable sensor, transmitting data via the Internet to a doctor's smartphone, completely solves this problem.
Microfluidic skin sensor interested not only doctors and sports coaches, but also military units for the organization of training personnel.
Article by Jungil Choi et al. Skin-interfaced systems for sweat collection and analytics is published in the journal Science Advances.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on materials from Northwestern University: New microfluidic devices help athletes and enhance physical rehab.