Multiplexed Sweat Extraction And Sensing Wearable Interface For Normalized And Periodic Analysis

Summary

UCLA researchers from the Department of Electrical Engineering have developed a novel sweat induction and sensing platform to achieve personalized physiological monitoring non-invasively.

Background

Wearable electrochemical sensors have made sweat analysis possible for personalized medicine applications. Current technologies integrate flexible device fabrications and low-power electronics to perform in-situ sensing and sweat analytes. However, these existing platforms have issues with sweat sample access and degradation, which jeopardize the accuracy and applicability of the analysis. The inaccessibility is especially problematic on sedentary individuals. The lack of control of sweat secretion hinders the application of such platforms.

Innovation

A novel sweat extraction and analysis platform was developed to resolve the aforementioned bottle neck issues. This platform uses an innovative iontophoresis electrodes/hydrogel for sweat induction. This method made sweat samples accessible on-demand for analysis and doesn’t threaten the sample integrity. The platform includes a total of 8 compartments for analysis and a wireless circuit board for control, signal processing and wireless transmission. The compartments consist of arrays of biomarker sensors and calibrating sensors such as pH, skin temperature and sweat rate. This platform can be programed to perform analytic tasks with extreme operational flexibility.

Applications

• Molecular level monitoring of sweat analytes
• Sweat pH
• Skin Temperature
• Sweat Rate
• Can be potentially used to monitor glucose levels

Advantages

• Wearable
• Total control and access to sweat samples
• Operational flexibility (Multi-tasking, programmable)
• Integratable to other electronic platforms

Patent Status