A team of engineers has invented a smart necklace that individuals can wear around their necks, assisting them in tracking their health in a move that could benefit 400 million diabetes sufferers worldwide. According to details reported by the British newspaper "Daily Mail," this slim smart necklace can measure various indicators in the sweat excreted by a person. This invention helps diabetes patients by eliminating the need for blood tests that involve finger pricks.
The necklace features a sensor placed at the back of the neck, responsible for monitoring glucose and serotonin levels. During clinical trials, engineers at Ohio State University were able to test the necklace's capabilities, measuring concentrations of sodium, potassium, and other substances in a person's sweat with an accuracy of 98.9 percent.
The innovation does not stop with the necklace; engineers expect to integrate biosensors into other accessories such as rings and earrings, and even implant them under the skin to inform patients about changes in their health.
Co-author of the study that led to this new invention, Jinghua Li, explained that sweat contains hundreds of biomarkers indicating our health status. Li added that the next generation of biosensors will not be surgical, unlike current methods, to the extent of revealing essential health information through the fluids excreted.
What's unique about the new biosensor is its small size and ability to yield results based on a minimal amount of sweat. Test results consistently showed that the concentration of glucose in sweat peaks 30-40 minutes after consuming sugar. However, it is unclear when this invention will be available on the market and what its anticipated price will be.
