#Product Trends
CONNECTED-MOUTHGUARD MONITORS YOUR HEALTH VIA SALIVA
UC San Diego Researchers Demonstrate Wearable Sensor That Can Detect Level of Uric Acid and Lactate in Saliva
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have created a mouthguard that can detect certain chemicals in saliva. The mouthguard is packed with in-built sensors that can track the concentrations of uric acid and lactate in saliva, which may indicate fatigue and other health concerns. The device could have a range of applications including real time monitoring of athletes, determining stress levels of pilots, and even continuous monitoring of patients in hospitals. The first sensor the team at the university developed was able to detect the concentration of lactate (high-concentrations are associated with fatigue), while their most recent sensor can identify concentrations of uric acid (elevated levels are connected with a number of metabolic disorders). The connected-device transmits the information it gathers to a tablet or smartphone using Bluetooth Low Energy, a less power-consuming tech than classic Bluetooth.
As it stands, the researchers have demonstrated the device’s ability to detect the chemicals in human saliva, however they haven’t yet tried the device in a person’s mouth. Saliva makes for an interesting diagnostic fluid, as it contains a lot of important biological information and a sample can be taken in a non-invasive way. Patrick Mercier, assistant director of the Center for Wearable Sensors at UC San Diego, says the first application would be aimed at high-performance athletes who want to keep track of the level of lactate in their saliva. He added, that the US Air Force is also interested in wearable technology that can monitor pilot stress levels in real time. Ultimately Mercier envisages developing a less bulky device which can measure a whole range of markers that would be useful to clinicians.
