Category: Sensors
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Hypoallergenic, continuous, week-long health wearable
University of Tokyo professor Takao Someya has developed a hypoallergenic, adhesive, continuous health sensor. The device can be worn comfortably for a week because of its nanoscal mesh elastic electrodes. This allows the skin to breathe, preventing inflammation. The electrodes contains a biologically compatible, water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, and a gold layer. The wearable is applied…
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Thin, flexible, adhesive, continuous, cuffless blood pressure sensor
Zhao Ni and Yuan-ting Zhang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed an ultra-thin, waterproof, cuffless blood pressure sensor that can be worn on the wrist, woven into clothes or bed sheets, or integrated into an earpiece. The monitor detects blood flow and monitors health data through color reflected by skin and image depth.…
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Sensor-embedded respiration, feeding tubes in the ICU
Art Medical‘s sensor-embedded feeding and respiratory tubes provide continuous measurement of gastric reflux and, saliva. These secretions, currently measured manually in the ICU, can cause aspiration pneumonia and ventilator associated pneumonia, which can prolong hospital stays, or cause death. Urine output is also measured, in an attempt to prevent kidney failure. The company’s digestive, respiratory, and…
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Adhesive patch + nose wearable detect sleep apnea
Somnarus has developed a disposable, adhesive patch that detects obstructive sleep apnea at home. The SomnaPatch is worn on the forehead, wth an addtional piece on the nose. It records nasal pressure, blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, respiratory effort, body position and how long a patient is asleep. An 174-patient study showed that results from the…
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Graphene sensor detects asthma attacks early
Azam Gholizadeh, Clifford Weisel, and Rutgers colleagues have created a graphene sensor for early molecular diagnosis of asthma attacks. The goal is the development of wearables that will alert users to take medicine, as well as determine appropriate dosages. Current non-invasive detection methods, such as spirometry, are limited in characterizing the nature and degree of…
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Earbud sensor reportedly measures blood pressure, dehydration
As health sensors become more discreet, and fused with commonly worn devices, Kyocera has integrated a tiny, optical sensor into its earbud. The hybrid music/phone/health use wearable measures blood flow in hypodermal tissues using Laser Doppler velocimetry. It can monitor nerve and blood pressure, levels of dehydration, and possible signs of heat stroke. Sleep monitoring can…
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Transparent, stretchable lens sensor for diabetes, glaucoma detection
UNIST professors Jang-Ung Park, Chang Young Lee and Franklin Bien, and KNU professors Hong Kyun Kim and Kwi-Hyun Bae, have developed a contact lens sensor to monitor biomarkers for intraocular pressure, diabetes mellitus, and other health conditions. Several attempts have been made to monitor diabetes via glucose in tears. The challenge has been poor wearability, as the electrodes…
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Wall sensor monitors walking speed, stride to track health
MIT’s Dina Katabi, Chen-Yu Hsu, and colleagues have developed WiGait, a wall sensor that detects walking speed and stride to monitor health. This builds on previous MIT research which showed that radio signals could track breathing and heart rate, without wearables. The system works by transmitting low-power radio signals and analyzing how they reflect off bodies within a…
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Sweat sensor for cystic fibrosis detection, drug optimization, glucose monitoring
Carlos Milla, Ronald Davis, and Stanford and Berkeley colleagues have developed a wearable sweat sensor for detecting cystic fibrosis, diabetes and other diseases. It can also aid drug development and personalization, and continuously monitor patients. The flexible sensor/microprocessor system adheres to the skin, stimulates sweat glands, and detects the presence of molecules and ions based…
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Verily’s health sensing research watch
The Verily Study Watch passively captures health data for continuous care platforms and clinical research. Key features described by the company include: Multiple physiological and environmental sensors are designed to measure relevant signals for studies spanning cardiovascular, movement disorders, and other areas. Examples include electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, electrodermal activity, and inertial movements. A long…
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Apple reportedly developing non-invasive glucose monitor
CNBC’s Christina Farr has reported that Apple has been quietly developing a non-invasive, sensor-based glucose monitor. The technology has apparently advanced to the trial stage. Diabetes has become a global epidemic. Continuous monitoring, automatic insulin delivery, and the “artificial pancreas” are significant steps forward, meant to control the disease, and avoid its debilitating side effects.…
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Solar powered, highly sensitive, graphene “skin” for robots, prosthetics
Professor Ravinder Dahiya, at the University of Glasgow, has created a robotic hand with solar-powered graphene “skin” that he claims is more sensitive than a human hand. The flexible, tactile, energy autonomous “skin” could be used in health monitoring wearables and in prosthetics, reducing the need for external chargers. (Dahiya is now developing a low-cost…