Your skin is not just bright, it’s soda. And now, science is olfatando.
Northwestern University researchers have developed the first contactless portable device of the world that can monitor their health gases emitted and naturally absorbed by the skin without touching it.
“This technology has the potential to transform clinical attention, particularly for vulnerable populations, including newborns, elders, patients with diabetes and ethers with committed skin,” said Dr. Guillermo A. Ameer, a biomedical engineering professor who directed the study.
Secret signals
Your skin is not just a barrier; It is a two -way street between its body and the outside world.
Every day, gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and volatile organic compounds (VOC) move inside and outside through the skin, which also protects it from irritating, toxins and all types of environment.
The device developed by Northwest researchers can monitor all that activity without even putting a finger, opening a new window to skin health.
Small but powerful
The gadget has a small place two centimeters long and a medium wide and is loaded with sensors that attract gas samples through a mini air chamber that looms just above the skin without making contact.
It is a change of play, since most portable devices need to stay directly on the skin, which can be a challenge for people with fragile or damaged fabric.
The data that brings together can provide information, above all, from the healing of wounds and hydration levels to the first signs of infection and even the exposure of toxic chemicals.
“For workers in a potentially dangerous environment, it is useful to know how much of these dangerous species are entering the body through the skin,” said Dr. John Rogers, a professor and researcher at Northwestern who co-drew the study.
Real -time monitoring at your fingertips
One of the largest advantages of the compact laptop is that it would allow patients to control their skin health at home, eliminating the need for bulky traditional hospital equipment.
Even better, it synchronizes with your smartphone or tablet to provide real -time data on the gases that your skin is emitting and absorbing.
The researchers said that this quick and accessible information can help medical care providers make faster and more informed treatment decisions, which is especially crucial for wound healing.
“The prescription of antibiotics for wounds can be a bit commitment,” said Ameer. “Sometimes it is difficult to know if a wound is infected or not.
The increase in water vapor, the CO2 and the VOCs are linked to bacterial growth and slower healing, so researchers said the monitoring thesis could help caregivers detect infections before and with greater precision, which allows a faster intervention and better health results.
“Being able to monitor closely, continuously a wound and prescribe an antibiotic in the first sign of infection is an obvious and important interest,” said Amer.
Next steps
The Northwest equipment expects the device to be used to improve the effectiveness of insect repellent, skin care products and medications designed to improve skin health.
For example, CO2 and voc attract mosquitoes and other pests. By measuring these skin emissions, you could help scientists develop better strategies to keep them away.
The device could also help dermatologists to measure the speed with which lotions and creams penetrate the skin, while helping researchers evaluate the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.
Looking towards the future, researchers want to refine the capacities of the device, including the addition of a sensor to monitor changes in pH levels and create gas sensors with more chemical selection for the early detection of the dysfunction of organs and other diseases.
“This technology is not just about measuring the gases and the corresponding characteristics of the skin,” Rogers said.
“It is about predicting general health, prevention infection and disease, and the creation of a future where personalized attention is promoted by the monitoring of continuous non -invasive health in real time,” he continued.
