Saliva And Tears: Wearabe Device Monitors Health And Administers Drugs

In patients with eye or mouth diseases real-time medical data can be delivered by a new kind wearable health device. The study conducted by Huanyu 'Larry' Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) is published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

A new paper published on new micro- and nano-device technology could revolutionize how certain health conditions are monitored and treated.

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

According to Cheng, the sensors placed near the tear duct or mouth collects samples, which would then produce data viewable on a user's smartphone or sent to their doctor. The device needs to be discreet, soft and comfortable for a patient to agree to wear it and would have to be a low-cost option for patients.

The tears- and saliva-sensing technology can be used in the treatment of diseases like oral cancer, oral ulcers, eye wrinkles and oral or eye infections like keratitis (inflammation of the clear tissue on the front of the eye).

In the previous year, Cheng published on a similar wearable skin patch that collects sweat and tests for pH, sodium and glucose levels useful for those with hypoglycemia or diabetes. The new device collects data and also administers medicine with a microneedle through the skin around the eye, mouth or tongue.

Cheng said, “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. Conversely, the ports can allow us to get access to the gene and coding information on the cell."

The researchers are developing working prototypes and in talks with local manufacturers as well as the National Institutes of Health and Amazon to manufacture the device on a large scale.

Cheng hopes to extend the technology to other applications as well with future support from the National Science Foundation.

He said, “There is strong motivation for us to apply this technology to similar sensing devices in the future.”

Source-Medindia