This new smart ring could provide insights that go well beyond sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have created an experimental smart ring that continuously examines sweat from the finger to track several molecules linked to metabolism, nutrition, physical activity, and alcohol intake.
The prototype can simultaneously monitor up to four biomarkers using interchangeable sensors capable of detecting glucose, ketones, vitamin C, uric acid, lactate, and alcohol.
Unlike most consumer smart rings, which monitor physical signals such as heart rate, movement, and skin temperature, this new device is designed to analyze chemical changes in the body in real time.
“Current commercial smart rings mainly collect biophysical data, but they do not capture molecular details from biochemical markers that could provide a more comprehensive understanding of a person’s health,” said Tamoghna Saha, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in Joseph Wang’s laboratory.
The researchers report in Nature Communications that their system represents the first fully integrated smart ring designed for everyday biochemical monitoring. The project was led by Wang, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.
Gathering Sweat Samples Without the Need for Physical Activity
A key advantage of the device is that users do not need to work out or intentionally produce sweat for it to function. Fingers naturally release tiny amounts of moisture throughout the day, even while the body is at rest, and the ring collects this fluid through an osmosis-based method developed by Saha.
The system uses a soft material known as an osmotic hydrogel, which generates a pressure gradient that gently draws sweat from the skin into a small collection channel. The process is noninvasive and painless, similar to how water naturally moves from a plant’s roots through its stem to reach the leaves.
Inside the ring, an electrochemical sensor array analyzes the molecules present in the collected sweat. The device then translates the electrical signals into estimated biomarker levels using personalized calibration data created for each user. This individual calibration is essential because sweat composition and the connection between sweat-based readings and blood measurements can differ significantly among people.
Monitoring Metabolic Changes in Real Time
Tracking multiple molecules at the same time could uncover trends that would not be visible from a single measurement. For instance, glucose and ketones offer distinct yet related insights into how the body produces and utilizes energy. Continuous monitoring may help reveal how these biomarkers fluctuate after eating, during periods of fasting, while exercising, or following medication use.
“Having a ring that can continuously capture changing molecular data in real time could be highly valuable for guiding decisions about health, nutrition, and daily habits,” said Wang. “For example, the ability to monitor glucose and ketones simultaneously and continuously could significantly improve insulin dosing strategies for people managing diabetes.”
In trials with both healthy participants and individuals with type 1 diabetes, the ring’s glucose readings closely matched those from commercially available continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). The ketone measurements also showed strong agreement with results from standard blood ketone testing devices.
A Full Laboratory on Your Finger
The ring integrates the complete sensing platform into a single device, eliminating the need for separate patches or external readers. One part of the ring includes the sweat collection mechanism, fluid pathway, and sensors, while another section contains the battery and electronic components. The ring wirelessly sends data to a smartphone application, allowing users to monitor changes in their biomarkers over time.
A flexible, rechargeable zinc-silver oxide battery allows the prototype to operate for up to 12 hours on a single charge. The electronic circuit is smaller than a U.S. quarter, and the ring’s outer casing is produced using a 3D-printed polymer material.
“Integrating all of these components into such a small ring-shaped device is truly remarkable,” Wang said.
Read tthe original article on: ScieTechDaily
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