Engineers at UC San Diego have developed a smart ring capable of passively analysing sweat to track multiple biomarkers simultaneously, potentially revolutionising personalised health and disease management.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a smart ring that can continuously read several chemical markers in finger sweat at once, opening a possible route to less intrusive monitoring for conditions such as diabetes and for broader nutrition tracking. The prototype is designed to measure as many as four biomarkers simultaneously from a larger set that includes glucose, ketones, vitamin C, uric acid, lactate and alcohol.
The ring does not depend on exercise-induced perspiration. Instead, it uses an osmotic hydrogel to draw sweat passively from the skin and into a fluid channel, where an electrochemical sensor array analyses the sample. The system also relies on repeated measurements to create user-specific calibration factors, helping convert sensor currents into concentration readings that are tailored to each wearer.
UC San Diego says the device is a fully integrated prototype, combining sensing hardware, low-power electronics and a flexible rechargeable battery. The battery is designed to last up to 12 hours between charges, and the ring sends biomarker data wirelessly to a smartphone app.
In trials involving healthy volunteers and people with type-1 diabetes, the ring’s glucose readings closely tracked commercial continuous glucose monitors, while its ketone measurements were similar to those from blood meters, according to the university’s account of the work. That alignment matters because sweat-based sensing has long been attractive but difficult to use reliably for day-to-day monitoring, especially when measurements must be stable enough to support personal health decisions.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
