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Portable technologies are revolutionizing health care, but the design limitations for personal monitors based on the adhesive prevented them from meeting their full potential.
A new Arizona University studypublished in Nature communicationsDescribes a more durable and 3D laptop without adhesive capable of providing a more complete image of the physiological state of a user.
The device, which measures water vapor and skin emissions of gases, continues and continuously records physiological data associated with dehydration, metabolic changes and stress levels.
“The monitoring of portable health traditionally depends on the sensors that are attached directly to the skin, but the skin itself is constantly renewed,” said Philipp Gutruf, associate professor of Biomedical engineering and member of Bio5 Institute to the U of A who co-wrote the study with the main author David Clausen, doctoral student and researcher at the Gutruf Lab.
“This limits how long you can collect reliable data. With our sensor that follows the sparkling emissions of the skin, we fully overcome this constraint,” said Gutruf.
Skin loss weakens adhesives and hoove sensors, so the portable devices applied with adhesives should be reappeared every few days. Researchers from the Gutruf laboratory of the U of a device have designed a device, worn on the forearm, which looks like a small 3D printed handle and can be worn continuously. The device sensors constantly measure the gases emitted by the user, comparing their concentrations with a normal outdoor air.
Unlike sports accessories based on healthcare adhesives and monitoring clothes, which historically record snapshots, the device developed by Gutruf and its colleagues provide continuous and real -time data visible on a smartphone or computer via Secure Bluetooth.
“This opens up a brand new space of biomarkers,” said Gutruf. “For example, you can capture the metabolic signatures of the exercise or stress without interrupting the normal routine of the subject. Previously, the measures of this type required an entire equipment room.”
Practical applications, proven results
With a device like this, athletes can monitor hydration and effort during training. The laptop could also record symptoms of mental health and chronic diseases to help prevention and treatment. In fact, monitoring and monitoring physiological signs of stress in gas emissions can even help identify early metabolic disorders, Gutruf said.
“Our conception is stable even when exposed to daily movement and environmental changes,” said Clausen. “We are able to record continuous data over several days without recharging, while capturing rich physiological data which is generally not possible in a portable format or require visible sweat.”
Researchers plan to extend the range of detectable biomarkers and integrate Advanced DaYour analytics to provide personalized health information over even longer periods.
Reference: Clausen D, Farley M, Little A, et al. Skin analysis with portable continuous broadcasting. Common nat. 2025; 16 (1): 4343. Doi: 10.1038 / S41467-025-59629-X
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