Application Engineering

Call us today on +44(0)1825 764737
Call us today on
+44(0)1825 764737
  • Home
  • Our Products
    • Pressure and Vacuum Switches
    • Level Switches and Sensors
    • Flow Switches & Sensors
    • Temperature Switches and Sensors
    • Fire Sprinkler Products
    • ATEX Certified Products
    • Ancillary Products
    • JetCleaner
    • Solenoid Valves
  • Pressure Switches
  • Kytola Products
  • Fire Sprinkler Products
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
You are here: Home / News / New wearable sensor measures skin hydration

February 8, 2017 By Martin Read

New wearable sensor measures skin hydration

Man drinking water - Blog image

Sensors are sophisticated devices that are frequently used to detect and respond to signals. A new wireless sensor developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, can measure skin hydration.

Your sweat can tell you more than you think. The sensor, designed to be incorporated in a chest patch or in a watch on the wrist, measures the metabolites and electrolytes in sweat. It alerts the user to hydration levels, as well as fatigue, and dangerous body temperatures. Its potential in lifestyle and medical applications is huge.

Principal investigator at the University of California, Professor Ali Javey, was quoted in the Berkeley News, “human sweat contains physiologically rich information, thus making it an attractive body fluid for non-invasive wearable sensors.” It is thought that the sensor will be extremely useful for those working in extreme temperatures.

The device will be able to track the hydration levels of those working in heated conditions, such as military personnel, athletes and firefighters. It also has great potential for non-invasive tracking of hydration in medical patients and the elderly. The sensors measure glucose and lactate, and the electrolytes sodium and potassium, as well as skin temperature. Monitoring hydration levels this closely in real time will allow intervention before a health problem arises.

A report in the New Scientist says “Javey envisages it as being more than a gadget for fitness fanatics.” A quote from Javey says “We’re trying to use these for clinical studies, for patients, for elderly people, and for people with depression.”

The NC State News gave details of the mechanics as thus, “the sensor consists of two electrodes made of an elastic polymer composite that contains conductive silver nanowires. These electrodes monitor the electrical properties of the skin. Because the skin’s electric properties change in a predictable way based on an individual’s hydration, the readings from the electrodes can tell how hydrated the skin is.”

Skin’s electric properties change in relation to its hydration and electrodes in the sensor are able to measure that. Researchers tested the sensor on a variety of artificial skins in the laboratory and found results were just as accurate as large hydration monitors that work in a similar way.

It’s relatively inexpensive to produce. The sensor itself costs as little as one dollar, and manufacturing costs for it to go in a wearable device make it no more expensive than current market prices for the popular Fitbit activity trackers.

Filed Under: News

How can we help you?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Tweets by appeng_ltd

Applications Engineering Ltd

Liberty House
Unit 9C Ashdown Business Park
Michael Way
Maresfield
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 2DU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1825 764737
Fax: +44 (0)1825 768330

Follow Us On Social Media
Applications Engineering - Twitter logo Applications Engineering - Facebook logo Applications Engineering - LinkedIn Logo
REGISTERED IN THE UK, COMPANY NO. 01754698 (ENGLAND) - VAT NO. GB 207 6966 82

Copyright © 2021 2020 APPLICATIONS ENGINEERING LTD Privacy Policy

Call Us Today