Communications of the ACM
Researchers Develop Wearable, Low-Cost Sensor to Measure Skin Hydration
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a wearable wireless sensor that can monitor a persons skin hydration.
Credit: Shanshan Yao
North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers have developed a wearable, wireless sensor that can monitor a person's skin hydration, which they say can be used in applications that detect dehydration before it poses a health problem.
The device is lightweight, flexible, and stretchable, and already has been incorporated into prototypes that can be worn on the wrist or as a chest patch.
"Our sensor could be used to protect the health of people working in hot conditions, improve athletic performance and safety, and to track hydration in older adults or in medical patients suffering from various conditions," says NCSU professor John Muth.
The sensor consists of two electrodes made from an elastic polymer composite, which contains conductive silver nanowires that monitor the electrical properties of the skin.
During testing using custom-made artificial skins with a broad range of hydration levels, the researchers found the performance of the wearable sensor was not affected by ambient humidity.
The researchers incorporated the sensors into a wristwatch and an adhesive patch that can be worn on the chest, both of which wirelessly transmit sensor data to a program that can run on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
From NCSU News
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