This Tiny Skin Patch Uses Your Sweat To Detect Diseases
Ellen Smith — May 2, 2017 — Tech
References: mashable
The answer to all your medical problems may just be in your sweat. Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a tiny, flexible skin patch that has the capability of detecting diseases.
Human sweat contains many of the same bio-markers that are found in our blood. The skin patch technology finally capitalizes on this as it analyzes our body, without the pricking of a needle. The patch is simply placed on users and analyzes their sweat in order to produce some telling results. The skin patch can alert the user to drink more water, consume more electrolytes, or detect a bio-marker for cystic fibrosis.
Scientists hope that the patch can be used to diagnose other diseases in the future. If the technology advances, the simple patch can reduce the need for invasive blood tests, making visits to the doctor's office more pleasant and approachable.
Human sweat contains many of the same bio-markers that are found in our blood. The skin patch technology finally capitalizes on this as it analyzes our body, without the pricking of a needle. The patch is simply placed on users and analyzes their sweat in order to produce some telling results. The skin patch can alert the user to drink more water, consume more electrolytes, or detect a bio-marker for cystic fibrosis.
Scientists hope that the patch can be used to diagnose other diseases in the future. If the technology advances, the simple patch can reduce the need for invasive blood tests, making visits to the doctor's office more pleasant and approachable.
Trend Themes
1. Sweat-based Diagnostics - The development of skin patches that analyze sweat for disease detection presents an opportunity for non-invasive medical diagnostics.
2. Non-invasive Monitoring - The use of skin patches that detect diseases through sweat analysis can revolutionize the way we monitor our health without the need for invasive procedures.
3. Personalized Medicine - Skin patches that analyze sweat can provide personalized health recommendations, such as hydration and electrolyte levels, leading to more tailored and effective treatments.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can leverage sweat-based diagnostics to enhance patient care, improve diagnostic accuracy, and reduce the need for invasive procedures.
2. Wellness and Fitness - The wellness and fitness industry can integrate sweat-based analysis into wearable devices to provide real-time health monitoring and personalized coaching for hydration and electrolyte levels.
3. Pharmaceuticals - Pharmaceutical companies can explore the use of sweat-based diagnostics to develop targeted therapies and medications for specific diseases detected through sweat analysis.
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