Maintaining bodily water balance is crucial for survival. While sweat serves as an essential indicator of physical and mental health, current wearable technologies can only track significant sweat volumes.

Figure 1. Wearable Patch. (Credit: University of Tsukuba)

Figure 1 shows a patch attached to the surface of the skin. To address this limitation, researchers have developed a lightweight (1 g), thin (1-mm thick) wearable patch that can be attached to the skin. This innovative patch accurately measures trace amounts of insensible perspiration, the water vapor that evaporates from the body surface even during rest. The patch’s channels, made from superhydrophilic polymer sponges, mimic the water absorption mechanisms found in plants. This design enables rapid and reliable monitoring of small sweat amounts. Additionally, the sweat entering the channels is dyed with a food colorant, allowing visual confirmation of perspiration volume and rate, thus indicating dehydration levels. The patch also includes a sensor that continuously monitors the concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) and chemical components such as sodium, potassium, and glucose ions, providing real-time detection of concentration changes [1, 2].

Experiments using the patch on various body parts during daily activities confirmed its effectiveness and measurement reliability. This groundbreaking wearable patch shows great potential for applications in dehydration management, stress and tension monitoring, disease detection, sports performance optimization, and more. By being individually worn and utilized, it is set to significantly advance personalized medicine.

Source: University of Tsukuba

References:

1. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1050388
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202401947

Cite this article:

Hana M (2024), Revolutionary Wearable Patch: Real-Time Sweat Monitoring for Optimal Health and Performance, AnaTechMaz, pp. 270