Communications of the ACM
A Nano-Transistor Assesses Your Health Via Sweat
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have develop an ultra-low power sensor that enables real-time scanning of the contents of liquids such as perspiration.
Credit: Jamani Caillet/EPFL
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) researchers have developed an ultra-low-power sensor that enables real-time scanning of the contents of liquids such as perspiration.
The researchers say the sensor is made using state-of-the-art silicon transistors and is compatible with advanced electronics and is accurate enough to be used with mobile sensors that monitor health.
"Our technology detects the presence of elementary charged particles in ultra-small concentrations such as ions and protons, which reflects not only the pH balance of sweat but also more complex hydration of fatigues states," says EPFL researcher Adrian Ionescu.
The researchers fixed a microfluidic channel, through which the fluid to be analyzed flows, to the transistor. The technology relies on a layered design that isolates the electronic part from the liquid substance.
"In our chip, sensors and circuits are in the same device--making it a 'sensing integrated circuit,'" says EPFL researcher Sara Rigante. "This proximity ensures that the signal is not disturbed or altered. We can thereby obtain extremely stable and accurate measurements."
The researchers note the transistor's size of just 20 nanometers makes it possible to place a whole network of sensors on one chip, with each sensor locating a different particle.
From Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
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