A wearable health monitor can reliably measure levels of important biochemicals in sweat during physical exercise. The 3D-printed monitor could someday provide a simple and non-invasive way to track health conditions and diagnose common diseases, such as diabetes, gout, kidney disease or heart disease.

The researchers used 3D printing to make the health monitors in a unique, one-step manufacturing process. They used a single-atom catalyst and enzymatic reactions to enhance the signal and measure low levels of the biomarkers. Three biosensors on the monitor change color to indicate the specific biochemical levels.

The health monitor is made of very tiny channels to measure the sweat rate and biomarkers’ concentration. As they’re being fabricated via 3D printing, the micro-channels don’t require any supporting structure, which can cause contamination problems as they’re removed. (Image Credit: Washington State University)

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Topics:
Additive manufacturing Advanced manufacturing Anatomy Biomaterials Cardiovascular system Consumer electronics Diagnosis Diseases Electronic equipment Fluids and secretions Health Monitors and Activity Trackers Measurements Medical Medical, health and wellness Wearables

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    This article first appeared in the September, 2024 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine.

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