Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Continuous Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Novel Sweat Stimulation, Collection and Sweat Rate Correlations

Abstract Details

2017, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Electrical Engineering.
Continuous, non-invasive monitoring of an individual’s health remains a difficult challenge for the biomedical community. Blood allows for a variety of metrics, commonly referred to as biomarkers, to be observed for an individual with accurate insight into the state of the human body. However, the downfall of this `gold-standard’ for biomarker analysis lies in the technique for sample collection. Proper extraction of an individual’s blood for analysis often requires a trained staff, greatly restricts mobility and is extremely invasive. Even barring additional risks for bloodborne pathogens, the invasive nature makes blood biomarker analysis prohibitive for continuous monitoring. Other bodily fluids remain as alternatives to blood for biomarker monitoring including urine, tears or saliva, for example. These options, however, have issues with proper stimulation and sampling techniques to enable continuous monitoring or these biofluids suffer from poor time resolution. Sweat, perhaps the last viable alternative, is a seemingly attractive solution as it can be generated on demand, is readily collected using proven techniques and is essentially filtrate of the currently accepted standard, blood. Presented within this dissertation is analysis of the physiological parameters which affect sweat-based biosensing. This analysis includes biomarker partitioning mechanisms for electrolytes, smaller molecules and peptides such as sodium (Na+), lactate and cytokines. Also included are implications of sweat rates on minimum sampling intervals and the concentration of biomarkers, themselves. Utilizing this knowledge, a method for continuous, non-invasive biomarker sensing is also presented. This technique leverages an underutilized physiological phenomenon for sweat generation in tandem with a novel device structure and sensing modalities. This dissertation presents one of the first-ever devices to integrate sweat stimulation and biomarker sensing in a cost-effective and simple manner for individuals at rest in a compelling manner. Additionally, the device presented is a modular platform which has demonstrated functionality with skin impedance and electrolyte sensing but is likely compatible with a wider array of sensing modalities (aptamer, enzyme, etc.), further enhancing the potential capabilities described within this dissertation.
Jason Heikenfeld, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Joshua A. Hagen, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Fred Beyette, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Gerald Kasting, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Ian Papautsky, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
120 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sonner, Z. C. (2017). Continuous Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Novel Sweat Stimulation, Collection and Sweat Rate Correlations [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1491318676968099

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sonner, Zachary. Continuous Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Novel Sweat Stimulation, Collection and Sweat Rate Correlations. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1491318676968099.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sonner, Zachary. "Continuous Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Novel Sweat Stimulation, Collection and Sweat Rate Correlations." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1491318676968099

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)