Wearable Aptalyzer runs for weeks to provide vital health data

Created by a team featuring researchers from Canadian institutions McMaster University and the University of Waterloo, the Wearable Aptalyzer uses an array of hydrogel needles that penetrate deeply enough to reach the interstitial fluid beneath the skin, but not far enough to reach the blood vessels or nerves.

The patch gathers and sends information about markers in the fluid to an electronic device such as a smartphone, creating an ongoing record of patterns in the rise and fall of critical biomarkers.

Once developed for clinical use, it will allow health professionals to access current medical information that is available after blood tests and lab work.

According to the team, the new technology could make monitoring the markers of specific diseases and conditions as simple as tracking pulse, blood pressure and other vital signs. The researchers describe the work in Advanced Materials.

“This technology can provide real-time information about both chronic and acute health conditions, allowing caregivers to act more quickly and with greater certainty when they see trouble,” said corresponding author Professor Leyla Soleymani, from McMasters University.