Wearable sensor monitors biomolecules in deep tissue

According to the team at University of California San Diego, its skin patch could give medical professionals unprecedented access to crucial information that could help spot life-threatening conditions such as malignant tumours, organ dysfunction, cerebral or gut haemorrhages and more.

“The amount and location of haemoglobin in the body provide critical information about blood perfusion or accumulation in specific locations. Our device shows great potential in close monitoring of high-risk groups, enabling timely interventions at urgent moments,” said Sheng Xu, a professor of nanoengineering at UC San Diego and corresponding author of the study.

Low blood perfusion inside the body may cause severe organ dysfunctions and is associated with a range of ailments, including heart attacks and vascular diseases of the extremities.

At the same time, abnormal blood accumulation in areas such as in the brain, abdomen or cysts can indicate cerebral or visceral haemorrhage or malignant tumours. Continuous monitoring can aid diagnosis of these conditions and help facilitate timely and potentially life-saving interventions.