Filtration & fluid control
hypoglycaemic episodes and good agreement with standard blood glucose testing, but large-scale clinical data has not yet been widely published. As well as analysing blood sugar fluctuations, this patch could also be used to detect dehydration, kidney dysfunction and electrolyte imbalances. Further down the line, it could even be used to flag cancer biomarkers, in the manner of a wearable liquid biopsy.
Filtration-based microfluidics are being integrated into wearable healthcare devices.
and so forth. However, work is continuing apace in this area. Filtration technologies will likely play an important role in liquid biopsy going forward.
Wearable monitoring devices Outside of the lab, filtration-based microfluidics are increasingly being integrated into wearable healthcare devices, with promising results. “Applications include continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), for diabetics, which provide real- time glucose level tracking,” says Rajabi. “We are also seeing smart inhalers that optimise medication delivery based on respiratory parameters, and wearable microfluidic platforms for detecting various biomarkers from sweat, such as sodium, potassium and glucose.”
Devices of this nature can monitor a patient continuously and non-invasively. Generally, it isn’t the blood that’s being analysed here, but rather other bodily fluids such as sweat, saliva, tears, interstitial fluid or wound exudate. The fluid passes through microfluidic channels in a sensor, where it is filtered through pores to obtain an instant electrochemical analysis. That data is sent to a smartphone or to the cloud for remote patient monitoring, often with the aid of AI. Take skin patches for diabetes patients. Rather than relying on painful skin pricking, the new patches use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to measure glucose levels in the interstitial fluid. These patches are rapidly becoming the standard of care in diabetes management, not least because they allow for remote monitoring, enabling data to be easily shared with caregivers. More speculative for now, though potentially just as exciting, is a skin patch that analyses glucose and other biomarkers in sweat. Scientists in South Korea are working on a patch of this nature in collaboration with industry partners. Early reports describe promising reductions in dangerous
64
In terms of how these kinds of devices work, a paper in the journal Biosensors describes a microfluidic sweat-monitoring patch that collects human sweat and tracks glucose levels over extended periods in a multi-layered prototype device. It is composed of six layers and features five collection pools, four serpentine channels and two different valves. In other words, this isn’t a simple device – but it is a potentially game-changing one. While such applications beyond glucose monitoring are not yet commonplace in routine clinical practice, the field has advanced rapidly over the past few years and will likely continue to do so. “Advancements include enhanced accuracy and ease of use in wearable devices and developments of non-invasive monitoring techniques,” says Rajabi. “Scientists have overcome challenges related to sensor reliability and data integration, but remaining issues include ensuring long-term stability and user acceptance.” In her own lab, she focuses on developing microfluidic wearable devices for non-invasive health monitoring. For instance, her team are working with a French start-up to develop a skin patch linked to a smartphone that measures potassium levels in the interstitial fluid. This could facilitate remote patient monitoring among patients with chronic kidney disease, who often have high levels of potassium in their blood. It uses a microfluidic patch and an electrochemical sensor and can be used either for spot measurements or for monitoring over the course of several days. Over the years to come, Rajabi expects to see further advancements in predictive analytics in wearables, as well as the introduction of smart clothing that integrates health monitoring. “The integration of microfluidics with AI-driven data analytics is expected to significantly enhance patient monitoring,” she says. “It will enable proactive health management and personalised medicine solutions. Additionally, the collaboration with companies to develop minimally invasive testing solutions will improve quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.” Ultimately, we may start to see fully integrated wearable devices that provide comprehensive health monitoring. While this prospect is incredible enough in its own right, it is even more incredible to remember where we started: with as humble and ancient a technology as filtration. ●
www.medicaldevice-developments.com
AI Asset Generator/
Shutterstock.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
