Breakthrough for sweat: Health monitoring device

Date:
May 3, 2023
Source:
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Summary:
Sweat is more than just a sign of a good workout. It holds vital
information about our health, providing clues to dehydration,
fatigue, blood sugar levels and even serious conditions such as
cystic fibrosis, diabetes and heart failure. Researchers have
taken a giant leap forward in sweat analysis with an innovative
3D-printed wearable sweat sensor called the 'sweatainer.'

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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Sweat is more than just a sign of a good workout. It holds vital
information about our health, providing clues to dehydration, fatigue,
blood sugar levels and even serious conditions such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes and heart failure. Researchers at the University of Hawaii at
Manoa College of Engineering have taken a giant leap forward in sweat
analysis with an innovative 3D-printed wearable sweat sensor called
the "sweatainer." Harnessing the power of additive manufacturing (3D-printing), the researchers have developed a new type of wearable
sweat sensor that expands the capability of wearable sweat devices. The sweatainer is a small, wearable device similar in size to a child's
sticker that collects and analyzes sweat, offering a glimpse into
the future of health monitoring. By incorporating various sensors, the sweatainer can analyze sweat in a mode similar to previous wearable sweat- sensing systems.

"3D-printing enables an entirely new design mode for wearable sweat
sensors by allowing us to create fluidic networks and features with unprecedented complexity," Department of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor Tyler Ray said. "With the sweatainer, we are
utilizing 3D-printing to showcase the vast opportunities this approach
enables for accessible, innovative and cost- effective prototyping
of advanced wearable sweat devices." Efficient and cost-effective
approach Traditional approaches for sweat collection use absorbent
pads or microbore (very narrow) tubes pressed against the epidermis
(surface layer of the skin) using bands or straps to capture sweat as
it emerges from the skin. These techniques require trained personnel,
special handling and costly laboratory equipment. The recent emergence
of wearable sweat sensors has addressed some of these challenges,
but these devices still remain single-use. When the device is full,
it must be removed and the sweat collection be stopped.

One unique feature of the sweatainer is its "multi-draw" sweat collection method, which allows for the collection of multiple, separate sweat
samples for analysis either directly on the device or sent to a
lab. Inspired by the vacutainer used in clinical blood sampling, this advancement not only makes sweat collection more efficient but also
opens up new possibilities for at-home testing, storing samples for
future research and integrating with existing health monitoring methods.

Field studies of the sweatainer system highlight the real-world potential
of this groundbreaking technology. Through the blueprint established in
the sweatainer, the researchers hope that this will continue to drive innovation to create a future where personal health monitoring is more accessible, convenient and insightful.

The findings were published in Sciences Advances on May 3.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Health_&_Medicine
# Diseases_and_Conditions # Health_Policy #
Personalized_Medicine # Medical_Devices
o Matter_&_Energy
# Wearable_Technology # Textiles_and_Clothing # Detectors
# Electronics
* RELATED_TERMS
o Cystic_fibrosis o Body_odor o Diabetes o Sweating o
Hyperglycemia o Heart_failure o Heart_rate o Blood_sugar

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Hawaii_at_Manoa. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Chung-Han Wu, Howin Jian Hing Ma, Paul Baessler, Roxanne Kate
Balanay,
Tyler R. Ray. Skin-interfaced microfluidic systems with spatially
engineered 3D fluidics for sweat capture and analysis. Science
Advances, 2023; 9 (18) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg4272 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230503154625.htm

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