Abstract: A device is for measuring a body parameter for a subject. The device comprises a sensor for measuring the body parameter, a housing element for positioning the sensor on a body part of the subject and an actuator system within the housing element for applying a pressure to the body part. The actuator system comprises two states, a first state based on the actuator system applying a first pressure to a first area of the body part and a second state based on the actuator system applying a second pressure to a second area of the body part. The device also comprises a controller configured to apply the first and second states at different times.

Abstract: Provided is a system (300) for determining a sweat rate per gland and measuring biomarker concentration. The system comprises an apparatus and a sensor (166). The apparatus receives sweat from the skin and transports the sweat as discrete sweat droplets to the sensor. The sensor senses each of the counted sweat droplets. The system further comprises a processor which counts the number of sensed sweat droplets during a time period. The processor also determines time intervals between consecutive sensed sweat droplets, and receives a measure of the volume of each of the counted sweat droplets. The time intervals and the measure of the volume are then used by the processor to identify sweat burst and rest periods of the sweat gland or glands producing the sweat. This identification process necessarily involves assigning the sweat burst and rest periods to the sweat gland or glands, such that the processor is permitted to determine the number of sweat glands involved in producing the sweat.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving (402), from a sensor, first data indicative of a concentration of a first substance in sweat secreted from sweat glands of a subject; determining (404) a relationship between (i) a time of occurrence of a characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in sweat and (ii) a time of occurrence of the characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in blood; and determining (406), based on the relationship and the received first data, a time window regarding the intake of a second substance by the subject. Another aspect provides an apparatus for carrying out this method.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus (100) for transporting sweat droplets (112) to a sensor. The apparatus comprises a chamber (102) for filling with sweat. The chamber has an inlet (104) lying adjacent the surface of the skin (106), which inlet permits sweat to enter and fill the chamber. The chamber has an outlet (114) from which a sweat droplet protrudes once the chamber has been filled. The apparatus further comprises a fluid transport assembly which is designed to enable the sweat droplet protruding from the outlet to become detached from the outlet of the chamber. The sweat droplet is subsequently transported by the fluid transport assembly to the sensor. Once the protruding droplet has been released from the outlet, the outlet is made available for a subsequent sweat droplet to protrude therefrom upon further filling of the chamber.

Abstract: A device (1) for determining sweat parameters of a user is provided, which device comprises a microfluidic structure (10) having a collection chamber (16) configured to collect sweat from a first skin area (i), and a sensor (12) configured to determine a sweat parameter from sweat from the first skin area (i). The device also comprises an evaporation control chamber (14), which is connected to the microfluidic structure (10), configured to utilize fluid collected at a second area (ii) to moisten the microfluidic structure (10). The moistening of the microfluidic structure (10) aims to increase the available sweat for the sensor to determine a sweat parameter, by increasing the humidity inside the microfluidic structure (10) and thus, decreasing the evaporation of sweat. A method for determining sweat parameters of a user is also provided.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a system (10) comprising a sweat stimulation device (100) for stimulating sweat generation from sweat glands of a subject, the device comprising: a stimulation element (102) configured to provide modulated stimulation between two non-zero states to the sweat glands through the skin of the subject; and a sensor (104) for measuring data indicative of a characteristic of sweat generated by the sweat glands in response to the stimulation; and a processor (110) configured to receive the measured data from the sensor; compare the measured data with a threshold value; and responsive to determining that the measured data meets or exceeds the threshold value, generate an alert signal.

Abstract: A patient monitoring method comprises receiving (103, 109) input data indicative of shivering episodes (52) and sweating episodes (54) of a patient; recording (105, 111) the respective points in time at which the shivering episodes and sweating episodes occur; and generating (115, 117) an output based on an alternating pattern of the shivering episodes and sweating episodes from the recorded respective points in time of the respective shivering and/or episodes. Also disclosed is a computer program product for implementing such a method and a monitoring system (10) arranged to implement such a method.

Abstract: A method of ensuring an electrical connector for a medical device is disinfected or sterilized is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving the medical connector in a blocked state, wherein a component of the medical connector comprises a shape-memory alloy (SMA); and heating the medical connector to a sufficient temperature to change a shape of the SMA to an unblocked state. A medical connector comprising the SMA material is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a sweat sensing device (100). The device comprises a body (102) for positioning against skin (104). A recess (108) is defined in the body for receiving sweat from a skin area. The device further comprises an optical detection assembly (114) configured to detect a discrete sweat droplet (106) protruding into the recess from a sweat pore (110) in the skin area, and a fluidic system (116) configured to transport the sweat droplet (106) away from the recess (108) following detection of the sweat droplet by the optical detection assembly (114).

Abstract: The present invention relates to biofluid monitoring. It is proposed to use a system (100) and a method to detect when a biomarker sensor (10) with a regenerable surface (14) has degraded and/or predicting when the sensor will degrade. At least one of the following methods are used for the detection: counting the number of times the surface has been regenerated, determining the cumulative amount of biomolecules measured with the device, detecting an increased/decreased voltage change or pH change needed to release the biomarkers from the capture surface, detecting deviations of the sensor raw signal signatures from factory calibration signals, and using tracer analyte molecules comprising analyte molecules bound to magnetic beads.

Abstract: Provided is a method (400) of positioning a sweat sensor device (100), the method comprising: determining (410) a first skin location (i) of a mammalian subject, which first skin location (i) contains apocrine and eccrine sweat glands; determining (420) a second skin location (ii), adjacent to the first skin location (i), and having a different sweat gland composition than the first skin location, wherein at the second skin location (ii), predominantly eccrine sweat glands are present, and wherein the determining (410, 420) of the first (i) and second (it) skin locations is achieved by detecting differences between the first (i) and second (ii) skin locations; and positioning (430) the sweat sensor device (100) such that a first part of the sweat sensor device (100) is present on the first skin location (i), while a second part of the sweat sensor device (100) is present on the second skin location (ii).

Abstract: An actuator device has a temperature sensing means and a controller adapted to apply a high frequency AC signal to stimulate internal self-heating to thereby maintain a temperature of an actuator member of the device at a certain fixed temperature, this temperature being elevated with respect to an initial temperature of the actuator member. This ensures that thermal drift may be mitigated or eliminated by compensating for any changes in environmental temperature through raising or lowering the level of the heating signal.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (1) for treating skin (5). The cold plasma device (1) comprises a cold plasma generator (3) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating said skin (5), and a manipulator (10) adapted to manipulate said skin (5) to increase exposure of bacteria on said skin to said reactive species during use of the device.

Abstract: Provided is a system for correcting a sweat analyte measurement for temperature. The system comprises a sweat collector (106) for collecting sweat from skin (102). The collected sweat is drawn from the sweat collector to an outlet (110) via a capillary (108). The sweat is drawn through the capillary by capillary action and evaporation of the sweat from the outlet. The evaporation of the sweat from the outlet depends on the temperature. A flow sensor (112) measures a flow rate of the sweat being drawn through the capillary. An analyte sensor (114) obtains the sweat analyte measurement. The system further comprises a controller which is configured to determine a temperature from the measured flow rate. The sweat analyte measurement is then corrected using the determined temperature.

Abstract: A flow control device comprises a laminate structure of an electroactive material layer and a non-actuatable layer. An array of orifices is formed in one of the layers wherein the orifices are open in one of the rest state and actuated state and the orifices are closed in the other of the rest state and actuated state. Actuation of the electroactive material layer causes orifices to open and close so that flow control function may be implemented.

Abstract: A sweat sensing system comprises a mesh for location over a sweat surface on which sweat is formed or collected, and a vibration system for vibrating the mesh to nebulize sweat droplets. The nebulized sweat droplets are condensed on a sensing surface, and a sweat sensor performs biomarker sensing of the sweat at the sensing surface.

Abstract: There is provided a wearable device for quantitatively detecting a biomarker in a sweat sample obtained from the skin of a subject. The wearable device comprises a microfluidic network. The microfluidic network comprises a reservoir filled with a carrier fluid containing a predetermined amount of a marker; a sample collection chamber disposed downstream from the reservoir and adapted to contact the skin of the subject and collect a sweat sample; a first sensor disposed downstream from the sample collection chamber and adapted to detect the marker; and a second sensor disposed downstream from the first sensor and adapted to detect the biomarker.

Abstract: An actuator device has an ionic electroactive material actuator unit includes a unitary membrane with first and second actuation electrodes on the unitary membrane. A DC drive signal is applied between the actuation electrodes to cause migration of charges from one part of the unitary membrane towards another part of the unitary membrane. In addition, a pair of closely spaced measurement electrodes is provided on the first surface of the unitary membrane. In particular, the measurement electrodes are spaced apart by a spacing which is less than ten times the thickness of the unitary membrane at a location between the measurement electrodes. A local surface-effect impedance change is used as the basis of a signal measurement, for providing feedback relating to the state of actuation of the device.

Abstract: Provided is a method of determining a concentration (Ca) of a first analyte (a) in sweat excreted by a first sweat gland type at a first skin location (i) having the first sweat gland type and a second sweat gland type. The method comprises measuring a first concentration (I) of the first analyte in sweat excreted at the first skin location and measuring at least one parameter of sweat excreted by the second sweat gland type at a second skin location (ii) having the second sweat gland type but not the first sweat gland type. The at least one parameter is used to determine a dilution factor (II) which quantifies dilution of the first analyte by sweat excreted by the second sweat gland type at the first skin location. This dilution factor (II) is then used to correct the first concentration (I) so as to determine the concentration (Ca). Further provided is an apparatus (100) for determining the concentration (Ca).

Abstract: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles (42) for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.