Stretchable Sweat pH System an Alternative to Blood Tests
A Glasgow University research has now spun out a sensor that could end all the pin-pricking blood test woes.
The scientists led by Professor Ravinder Dahiya, head of the University of Glasgow’s School of Engineering’s Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) group, have built non-invasive, stretchable, wearable sensor system capable of monitoring the pH of the wearer’s sweat in real time as a means of tracking chronic conditions such as diabetes more easily and effectively.
Made from a graphite-polyurethane composite and measuring around a single square centimetre, it can stretch up to 53% in length without compromising performance. It will also continue to work after being subjected to flexes of 30% up to 500 times, which the researchers say will allow it to be used comfortably on human skin with minimal impact on the performance of the sensor.
The sensor uses near-field communication to wirelessly transmit its data to an accompanying smartphone app called ‘SenseAble’ which allows users to track pH levels in real time. This was demonstrated in the lab using a chemical solution created by the researchers which mimics the composition of human sweat.
Lead researcher Professor Ravinder Dahiya said
: “Human sweat contains much of the same physiological information that blood does, and its use in diagnostic systems has the significant advantage of not needing to break the skin in order to administer tests. Now that we’ve demonstrated that our stretchable system can be used to monitor pH levels, we’ve already begun additional research to expand the capabilities of the sensor and make it a more complete diagnostic system.”“We’re planning to add sensors capable of measuring glucose, ammonia and urea, for example, and ultimately we’d like to see a system ready for market in the next few years.”
