An interdisciplinary research team at the University of Arizona has developed a new type of wearable that works without adhesives and continuously records physiological data based on gas vapors from the skin. The device was manufactured using 3D printing and presented in Nature Communications. It provides a new form of biometric data collection that differs from conventional skin-adhesive sensors.
The wearable system measures gaseous emissions such as water vapor or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which correlate with physiological states such as dehydration, stress or metabolic changes. The key advantage of the design is that it does not require direct skin contact.
“Wearable health monitoring traditionally depends on sensors that directly attach to the skin, but the skin itself constantly renews,” said Philipp Gutruf, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and member of the BIO5 Institute at the U of A who co-authored the study with lead author David Clausen, a doctoral student and researcher in the Gutruf Lab. “This limits how long you can collect reliable data. With our sensor that tracks gaseous emissions from the skin, we overcome this constraint entirely,” Gutruf said.
The device is worn on the forearm and consists of a flexible, 3D-printed housing with integrated gas sensors. These continuously analyze the chemical composition of skin vapors and compare them with the ambient air. The collected data is encrypted and transmitted to a smartphone or computer via Bluetooth. The energy supply lasts for several days without the need for recharging.
“This opens an entirely new space of biomarkers,” said Gutruf. “For example, you can capture the metabolic signatures of exercise or stress without interrupting the subject’s normal routine. Previously, measurements of this kind required an entire room of equipment.”
“Our design is stable even when exposed to everyday movement and environmental changes,” said Clausen. “We’re able to record data continuously over many days without recharge, all while capturing rich physiological data that isn’t typically possible in a wearable format or requires visible sweat.”
Areas of application range from monitoring athletes’ training to the early detection of chronic diseases. The researchers see particular potential in the long-term monitoring of psychophysiological conditions. The team is currently working on expanding the range of detectable biomarkers and integrating data analysis methods to derive individual health profiles. The project was funded by the Arizona Technology and Research Initiative Fund and private foundations, among others.
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