A research team at Northwestern University has designed a quarter-sized, flexible patch that sticks on the skin and can be used to measure the wearer’s sweat and determine how his or her body is reacting to exercise. It has been successfully tested on athletes.
The low-cost electronic device is designed for a one-time use of just a few hours. Once on the skin, it analyzes biomarkers – a measurable substance in an organism whose presence indicates an infection or disease – to help someone determine if he or she needs to drink more water or even if there is a medical issue.