A wrist band type sweat sensor could transform diagnostics and drug evaluation for cystic fibrosis, diabetes and other diseases.
These sensors collect sweat, measures its molecular constituents and then electronically transmits the results for analysis and diagnostics according to a study led by researchers at the Standford University school of Medicine along with University of California.
Unlike old-fashioned sweat collectors, the new device does not require patients to sit still for a long time while sweat accumulates in the collectors.
Workings:
The 2-part system of flexible sensors and microprocessors sticks to the skin, stimulates the sweat glands and then detects the presence of different molecules and ions based on their electrical signals. When there is more chloride in the sweat, more electrical voltage is generated at the sensor’s surface. The team used wearable sweat sensors in separate studies to detect chloride ion levels- high levels are an indicator of cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis – is a genetic disease that causes mucus to buildup in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. It is usually diagnosed at a specialized center where electrodes stimulate sweat glands to produce sweat and determine chloride levels.
Portable and self-contained:
The device is wearable, robust and can be run with a smartphone, which can send measurements to a cloud and receive a result right back after review at a specialized center. CF diagnosis, as well as other kinds of diagnoses could be done without the need of a skilled clinicians on duty and a well-equipped lab. This could also be used for drug monitoring and its responses in a patient’s body.
Sweat is hugely amenable to wearable applications and a rich source of information. Researchers are also hoping to measure other molecular constituents of sweat such as sodium, potassium ions and lactate and use it for clinical interpretations in the longer run.
Major challenges:
Different people have different sweat profiles and the device should be calibrated accordingly. One of the other challenge is Reproducibility- how consistent measures are in the same person from day to day or hour to hour. Mapping the molecular contents of sweat could provide useful information about our body but are limited with what we can measure so far and its usefulness.
Researchers also see it to head off pandemics. The work is an example of Stanford Medicine’s focus on Preicision health, the goal of which is to anticipate and prevent disease in the healthy and precisely diagnose and treat disease in the ill.