Wearable Sweat Sensing Device Using Capture Wick and Biochemical Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring hydration and heat stress, particularly during intense exertion, are invasive, impractical, or require sophisticated equipment, making continuous assessment of fluid osmolality and volume challenging in real-world scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A wearable sweat sensing device with a sweat patch component featuring a capture wick and biochemical sensors that channel sweat across electronic circuitry, allowing for non-invasive, real-time measurement of hydration through changes in fluid volume and osmolality, which can be wirelessly transmitted for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard hydration assessment methods (blood osmolality, urine osmolality) are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring sophisticated equipment and training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sweat as an intermediary substance to indirectly measure hydration status. Instead of directly analyzing blood or urine, the device captures sweat through a wick and uses it as a proxy to assess fluid osmolality and volume, thereby achieving accurate hydration assessment without requiring complex medical equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/chemical analysis systems (blood/urine osmolality measurement equipment) with a simpler electrochemical sensing system. The electronic circuitry detects changes in electrical properties (conductivity, impedance) of sweat to infer hydration status, substituting sophisticated laboratory equipment with a wearable electronic device
2Measurement precision
If blood or urine osmolality measurements are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to requiring training for analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device performs self-service by automatically capturing sweat, sensing its properties, and processing the data without requiring user intervention or expertise. The electronic circuitry and processing system handle the entire analysis process autonomously, making the device as easy to use as wearing it while maintaining scientific accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Sweat serves as an accessible intermediary that can be collected without training. Unlike blood or urine collection which require medical procedures, sweat naturally appears on the skin surface and can be captured by the wick, eliminating the need for trained personnel while providing sufficient data for hydration assessment
3Measurement precision
If nude body mass fluctuations are used to measure fluid content, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to being unrealistic in field conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical approach of weighing the body (which requires controlled conditions and equipment) with an electrochemical sensing approach. Electronic sensors measure the electrical properties of sweat to infer fluid content, enabling accurate field measurements without scales or controlled environments
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly measuring body mass, the patent uses sweat composition as an intermediary indicator of fluid content. By analyzing the electrical properties of sweat, the device infers hydration status without requiring actual weight measurements, making it practical for field use while maintaining accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, non-invasive hydration monitoring, providing accurate fluid balance and electrolyte measurements, facilitating appropriate fluid and electrolyte replacement plans, and improving performance and cognitive function during high-exertion activities.
Implementation Method 1
a capture wick extending across the at least one biochemical sensor and including a tip that extends through the hole defined through the substrate to reach the skin of a wearer, the capture wick configured to channel sweat from the skin of the wearer across the at least one biochemical sensor
Implementation Method 2
a wick downstream from the capture wick and separated from the capture wick by a gap, the wick configured to channel sweat received via the capture wick
Implementation Method 3
electronic circuitry disposed against at least one face of the wick, wherein an electronic response of the electronic circuitry changes as sweat flows through the wick
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods described herein provide a wearable sweat sensing device. The device includes a sweat patch component including a sweat biochemical sensor patch having a substrate defining a hole, at least one biochemical sensor, and a capture wick including a tip that extends through the hole, the capture wick configured to channel sweat across the at least one biochemical sensor. The sweat patch component further includes a wick downstream from the capture wick and separated from the capture wick by a gap, and electronic circuitry disposed against at least one face of the wick, wherein an electronic response of the electronic circuitry changes as sweat flows through the wick. The wearable sweat sensing device further includes an electronics module component configured to facilitate assessing hydration of a wearer based on signals from the at least one biochemical sensor and the electronic circuitry.