How Compact Wearable “Lab on the Skin” Continuously Monitors Glucose And Lactate

 


Imagine being able to track your muscle fatigue during a workout, and measure your blood sugar levels, all with the same small device you wear on your skin. A prototype of such a wearable has been created by engineers at the University of California, San Diego (U C S D). It can simultaneously monitor lactate, glucose, and alcohol levels in real time.


The multitasking device i s roughly the size of six quarters. It is applied to the skin using a patch of tiny needles, or micro needles, about one-fifth the width of a human hair and shaped like Velcro. The device is not painful to wear because the micro needles barely penetrate the skin to detect biomolecules in the interstitial fluid, the fluid surrounding the skin's cells. The device transmits data wirelessly to a custom smartphone app and can be worn on the upper arm. 



According to center director J O S E P H W A N G, a U C San D I E G O professor of bioengineering and co-corresponding author of the paper, "This is like a complete lab on the skin". It is able to continuously measure multiple biomarkers at the same time, making it possible for users to keep an eye on their health and wellness as they go about their day-to-day activities


The majority of commercial health monitors only measure glucose, leaving out information that could aid in better disease management. Diabetes patients can avoid having their blood sugar drop too low after drinking by knowing both levels


Micro Needles Merged With Electronics

A micro needle patch connected to an electronics case makes up the wearable. In the interstitial fluid, various enzymes on the micro needle's tip react with glucose, and lactate. Small electric currents are produced by these reactions, which are analyzed by electronic sensors and sent wirelessly to an app that the researchers created. A smart phone displays the results in real time. 


Utilizing micro needles has the advantage of directly sampling the interstitial fluid, and research has demonstrated that levels of biochemicals measured in that fluid are well correlated with blood levels. 


Patrick Mercier, co-corresponding author of the paper and professor of electrical and computer engineering at U C San Die go, stated, "We’re starting at a really good place with this technology in terms of clinical validity and relevance". That makes it easier to translate clinical research. 


The disposable micro needle patch can be removed from the electronic case for simple replacement. The battery, electronic sensors, wireless transmitter, and other electronic components are housed in the reusable electronic case. Any wireless charging pad that is utilized for smartwatches and smartphones can be used to recharge the device


One of the team's biggest challenges was combining all of these parts into a small, wireless wearable. In addition, combining the micro needle patch, which is exposed to biological fluid, and the reusable electronics, which must remain dry, required clever design and engineering. 


"The magnificence of this is that it is a completely integrated framework that somebody can wear without being fastened to bench top gear", said M E R C I E R, who is likewise the co-overseer of the U C San D I E G O Place for Wearable Sensors


Testing 

Volunteers tested the wearable by wearing it while exercising, eating, and drinking lactate-laden foods and beverages

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Is Difference Between Chia Seeds And Flaxseed

Image
  Certain seeds have gained a reputation as superfoods in recent years. Examples include the well-known chia and flax seeds. Both have been linked to health benefits such as a healthier heart, lower blood sugar levels, and protection against certain types of cancer. However, many people wonder which of the two seeds is actually the healthiest. Both are extremely rich in nutrients. To answer this question, this article looks at the scientific evidence that supports each The Saliva Hispanic plant, more commonly referred to as the chia plant, is the source of the tiny oval-shaped chia seeds. Chia seeds are slightly larger and flatter than flax seeds. Flax seeds, on the other hand, have a slightly nuttier flavor than chia seeds. However, incorporating both kinds of seeds into a variety of dishes is simple Nutrition comparison Comparative analysis of the nutrients present in chia and flax seeds The major nutrients contained in a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving, or approximately 4 tablespoons,...
Read more

Overconsumption of Common Red Food Dye May Lead to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Image
  Allure Red AC, a synthetic dye found in popular foods like Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Jell-O, and Fruit Loops, has been linked to an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (I-B D S) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis if consumed frequently. The dye, also known as FD & C Red 40 and Food Red 17, is thought to have negative effects on gut health and increase inflammation, according to a small study done on laboratory mice. The study, which was recently published in Nature Communications, found that the additive directly breaks the gut barrier, which helps keep bacteria from getting in, and that it also makes more serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter in the gut. According to the report, this reaction alters the microbiome of the gut, making people more likely to develop inflammatory bowel conditions. What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye may be a dietary trigger for I-B D S, said senior author W-A L-I U...
Read more

Border violence displaces 76,000 in Lebanon: Hezbollah

 The International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations reported on Friday that nearly three months of nearly daily fighting along the border with Israel had resulted in the displacement of more than 76,000 people in Lebanon. The boundary region has seen a flood of viciousness since early October, with blow for blow trades of fire forging ahead with Friday between Israeli powers and Hezbollah. In a report distributed on Thursday, the IOM said that the heightening had uprooted 76,018 individuals, predominantly in areas of southern Lebanon lining Israel. More than 80% of the dislodged Lebanese are remaining with family members, as per the report, and just two percent housed in 14 aggregate sanctuaries spread across the south of the country, predominantly in the seaside city of Tire and in the Hasbaya locale. The remainder, according to the UN agency, have relocated to homes or apartments further from the border. Cross-line brutality has left 175 individuals dead in ...
Read more