The University of Arizona unveils an adhesive-free wearable device that offers continuous health monitoring by measuring gas emissions from the skin, promising transformative advancements in both sports science and chronic disease management.
Wearable technologies are on the brink of a significant leap forward, thanks to a new development from the University of Arizona. Unlike traditional adhesive-based wearables that require constant reapplication, this new 3D-printed, adhesive-free sensor can be worn continuously.
The innovative wearable continuously measures water vapor and gases emitted by the skin, providing a detailed and uninterrupted stream of physiological data. This can reveal crucial insights related to dehydration, metabolic changes and stress levels.
“Wearable health monitoring traditionally depends on sensors that directly attach to the skin, but the skin itself constantly renews,” co-author Philipp Gutruf, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Arizona and a member of the BIO5 Institute, said in a news release. “This limits how long you can collect reliable data. With our sensor that tracks gaseous emissions from the skin, we overcome this constraint entirely.”
Traditional wearable monitors face challenges from skin shedding, which weakens their adhesives and clogs their sensors, necessitating frequent reapplication.
However, Gutruf’s team has designed this forearm-worn device to be adhesive-free, resembling a small 3D-printed cuff. The sensors keep track of gases emitted by the skin and measure their concentrations against the baseline levels in the surrounding air.
“This opens an entirely new space of biomarkers,” Gutruf added. “For example, you can capture the metabolic signatures of exercise or stress without interrupting the subject’s normal routine. Previously, measurements of this kind required an entire room of equipment.”
This adaptability and durability make it a game-changer for both athletes and individuals living with chronic diseases. The device can track hydration and exertion without needing reapplication, and can potentially provide continuous monitoring of mental health indicators and chronic disease symptoms.
“Our design is stable even when exposed to everyday movement and environmental changes,” added lead author David Clausen, a doctoral student in the Gutruf Lab. “We’re able to record data continuously over many days without recharge, all while capturing rich physiological data that isn’t typically possible in a wearable format or requires visible sweat.”
Moving forward, the researchers intend to broaden the range of detectable biomarkers and incorporate advanced data analytics to deliver even more personalized health insights.
This study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was supported by Arizona’s Technology and Research Initiative Fund, the Moore Foundation and a discretionary award from the College of Engineering, naming Philipp Gutruf the 2024 da Vinci Fellow.
Source: The University of Arizona