Researchers develop waterproof skin patch for sweat biometrics

Researchers have developed a waterproof skin patch which monitors the wearer’s fluid levels and related biometrics for use by aquatic athletes, such as swimmers and triathletes, Tech Xplore reports.

The side of the patch adhering to the skin has a number of tiny holes, each of which tests for a different characteristic of the sweat they absorb. The international team based the design on a patch they made for use on land, and it works electronically by harvesting radio waves from the surrounding environment. Data stored on the device can be transferred to a smartphone or other device by NFC.
The flexible, 30mm patch has been tested in a range of applications, including real competitions, with encouraging results, according to the researchers. In addition to athletic performance indicators, the device can be used for other applications in different settings.

The researchers are working with Epicore Biosystems to commercialize the invention, according to the report.

Sweat analysis could theoretically be used for biometric identification, but the primary use case for the skin patch seems to be sports science.

Article Topics

biometric monitoring  |  biometrics  |  research and development  |  sports