Researchers from Linz and the US have developed a small solar-powered lab that can be worn directly on the skin like a patch. A biosensor uses energy from a coin-sized solar cell to monitor metabolism by analyzing body sweat and sending the data to a smartphone. According to the information, the sensor provides reliable results even with small amounts of sweat.
There are already sweat patches for athletes that can be used to estimate fluid loss during training. “But they work without electronics, for example by changing color, there is no analysis and evaluation involved,” explains Martin Kaltenbrunner from the Department of Soft Matter Physics at the University of Linz and the LIT Soft Material Lab.
His colleagues at the California Institute of Technology have long been working on electronic sensors that detect special molecules in body sweat (biomarkers) and can thus provide information about various metabolic processes. Until now, however, such sensors would have high demands on the energy supply and, on the other hand, require large amounts of sweat, which are only excreted during strenuous exercise.
Kaltenbrunner and his colleagues have now developed a flexible and lightweight solar cell module. It is only the size of a two-euro coin and can therefore not only supply energy to the sensor, but also to the electronics for evaluation and communication with the smartphone, even indoors.
They use a specific class of material (perovskite) for the solar cells, so the solar cells are “more efficient in low light than silicon solar cells. This is particularly ideal for indoor applications, where you can make the most of the little available light,” says Kaltenbrunner.
Even a little sweat is enough
Among the solar cells is the compact, wireless sensor platform developed by the Caltech researchers in collaboration with Wei Gao, containing evaluation and communication electronics, the sensors and a special layer that is in direct contact with the skin. “This pulls the sweat from the skin and takes it to the analysis node, where it is electrochemically evaluated,” says Kaltenbrunner.
This means that no strenuous physical activity is required to stimulate sweat production. The system also actively adjusts its power consumption to ensure optimal performance under different lighting conditions.
Plasters can in many cases make a visit to the doctor unnecessary
According to the researchers, the sensor platform can collect and analyze a wide range of physico-chemical data, such as glucose levels, pH balance, salt concentration, sweat rate and skin temperature. This allows users to continuously and uninterruptedly monitor various metabolic values throughout the day, which can be used in both disease diagnosis and fitness monitoring.
Kaltenbrunner sees the first applications in competitive sports for non-invasive monitoring of athletes. Later, however, such systems would also make it possible for the elderly, people with reduced mobility or children to receive personalized health management and individual diagnoses without having to immediately go to the doctor or hospital, as the data can be checked remotely.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
