Sensor-embedded wristband uses sweat to monitor wearer’s health

Nature : A sensor mounted on a flexible plastic wristband is being developed that can measure multiple components of human sweat simultaneously and transmit the measurements in real time. Because sweat is “rich in physiological information,” say the researchers , it could be used to assess the health of a patient in a completely noninvasive way, unlike blood tests, which require extracting samples through the skin with needles. Challenges remain before the device is ready for commercial production, however. One problem is that sweat content is more variable than blood because it can be influenced by microbes on the skin. Another is that people don’t always perspire, so a patch may need to stimulate sweat in addition to measuring it. The researchers hope to improve the design with further testing and the incorporation of more sensors. The device may even be able to go beyond the monitoring of physical health and pick up on biomarkers indicative of depression and other mental health issues.