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Wearable sensors are evolving to provide biochemical analyses, offering a glimpse into the future of health monitoring without the need for invasive procedures.
While modern wearable devices already track vital signs like pulse and blood pressure, their ability to diagnose based on biochemical data remains limited. Today, obtaining such data typically requires samples of body fluids like blood or urine, which must be sent to a laboratory for analysis—a process that can be painful, time-consuming, and costly. However, researchers say the next wave of wearable sensors will change all that by enabling real-time biochemical analysis.
Dr. Noé Brasier, Early-Career Fellow at the Collegium Helveticum, and ETH Professor Jörg Goldhahn, alongside leading researchers, recently published an overview in Nature, discussing how wearables could soon analyze body fluids such as sweat, breath, saliva, tears, and urine to provide valuable insights into a person’s health.
The advantages of this technology are clear. For elderly individuals at risk of dehydration or heat stress, wearable sensors could send reminders or even alert caregivers when critical thresholds, such as electrolyte levels, are reached. “It would make life a lot easier if a wearable device could warn them in time to drink enough,” said Brasier, the lead author.
The sensors also have the potential to benefit the youngest and most vulnerable patients. “For infants, taking blood or inserting a catheter is often difficult and distressing,” Brasier explained. “A sensor on the baby’s skin or in their diaper could provide the same information as a blood test without causing discomfort.”
Moreover, such technologies could have been a game changer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Face masks capable of detecting viruses like SARS-CoV-2 could have alleviated the need for nasal swabs.
The possibilities of wearable sensors are vast, ranging from dummy devices that measure dehydration in infants to tattoos that track blood sugar levels and contact lenses that analyze tears. But not all ideas are equally practical, and Goldhahn stresses the importance of focusing on what makes sense from both a medical and user perspective. “It’s not just about measuring any variable—it’s about what that measurement means in a clinical context,” he noted.
For instance, inflammation is commonly measured using C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, understanding the significance of a CRP reading depends on changes over time, such as whether a patient’s levels have increased or decreased. Brasier explains, “It’s not about a single reading; it’s about tracking changes in context.”
However, challenges remain, particularly when it comes to the sensors’ technical aspects. Key issues include how long a sensor can function, its energy consumption, and the reliability of the data it provides. “Careful validation will be crucial for gaining trust in these devices,” Goldhahn said.
The data captured by these wearables must also be processed and presented in a user-friendly manner, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly significant role. As these systems develop, the ability to interpret the data in meaningful ways will improve, helping both patients and healthcare professionals make informed decisions.
Dr. Brasier’s interest in wearables began with a focus on sweat, which he describes as an overlooked yet rich source of health data. “Sweat tells us so much about the body, from hydration levels to stress and metabolism. By using sweat analysis, we can gain valuable health insights without needing invasive procedures,” he said.
While the future of wearables looks promising, significant work remains before these devices are ready for clinical use. Researchers must continue refining their designs, ensuring the devices meet medical standards and can be approved for use in healthcare settings.
The next generation of wearable sensors could transform the way we monitor health, offering patients and doctors a more seamless, continuous, and non-invasive means of diagnosing and tracking conditions in real time.
For more information, read the full study in Nature: Noé Brasier, Applied body-fluid analysis by wearable devices (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08249-4.
