The first wearable device to gauge health by sensing gases coming from, going into skin, has been devised. The device, which comes from Northwestern University, measures changes in water vapor, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds emitted from and absorbed by the skin. By analysing these gases, the device offers an entirely new way to assess skin health.
These gases can provide information about infections, wound healing, hydration levels, chemical exposure and other factors. The device employs a unique no-contact design, housing a chamber that hovers above the skin without disturbing fragile tissues.
The bioelectric technology comprises a collection of sensors that precisely measure changes in temperature, water vapor, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds, which each give valuable insight into various skin conditions and overall health.
These gases flow into a small chamber within the device that hovers above the skin without actually touching it. This no-contact design is particularly useful for gathering information about fragile skin without disturbing delicate tissues.
Measuring just two centimetres long and one-and-a-half centimetres wide, the device comprises a chamber, a collection of sensors, a programmable valve, an electronic circuit and a small rechargeable battery. Instead of touching the skin directly, the chamber hovers a few millimetres above it. In addition, an automatic valve controls access between the enclosed chamber and the surrounding ambient air.
The bioelectronics device provides a novel way to assess the status of delicate skin without having to come in contact with wounds, ulcers or abrasions. This device is a step toward measuring changes in gases and correlating those changes with skin status.
The outermost layer of skin is the body’s first line of defence from the external environment. It maintains hydration by preventing excessive water loss and acts as a barrier against irritants, bacteria and ultraviolet radiation. When the skin barrier is compromised, it can lead to increased water loss (known as transepidermal water loss or TEWL), skin sensitivity, and risk of infection and inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
By tracking changes in the emission of water vapor and gases from the skin, health care professionals can gain a glimpse into the integrity of their patients’ skin barriers. While technologies to measure water vapor loss do exist, they are large, cumbersome machines that largely reside within hospital settings.
The compact wearable device, on the other hand, is designed to help physicians monitor their patients remotely and to empower individuals to take control of their own skin health at home.
An automatic valve opens and closes the entrance to this chamber — a function that dynamically controls access between the enclosed chamber and the surrounding ambient air. When the valve is open, gases flow in or out of the chamber, enabling the device to establish a baseline measurement. Then, when the valve rapidly closes, it traps gases within the chamber. From there, the series of sensors measure changes in gas concentrations over time.
Using Bluetooth, the device sends data straight to a smartphone or tablet for real-time monitoring. These fast results can help health care workers make more informed — and speedier — decisions for wound management and for administering antibiotics.
The innovative new technology not only offers unprecedented insights into wound healing and skin health, it also might pave the way for advances in monitoring the efficacy of bug repellents, skin creams and systemic medications designed to improve skin health.
The research appears in the journal Nature, titled “A Non-contact Wearable Device for Monitoring Epidermal Molecular Flux.”
