Wearable sensor measures eye and mouth secretions

Published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, the small medical device is designed to be placed near to the eyes or mouth to collect data from tears or saliva. Data collected  would then be sent to a user's smartphone or sent to their doctor, according to Huanyu 'Larry' Cheng, a Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) and lead author of the research.

‘Smart’ wearable sensor developed to track healing

"We sought to create a device that collects both small and large substances of biofluids such as tears and saliva, which can be analysed for certain conditions on a rapid, continuous basis, rather than waiting on test results from samples in a lab," said Cheng.

"Through nano- to micro-steel ports on the device, we can probe the cell to deliver molecular drugs for treatment in a very efficient process at the cellular level," Cheng said. "Conversely, the ports can allow us to get access to the gene and coding information on the cell."