Feasibility Study on a Microwave-Based Sensor for Measuring Hydration Level Using Human Skin Models

Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis--hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a mic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2016-04, Vol.11 (4), p.e0153145-e0153145
Main Authors: Brendtke, Rico, Wiehl, Michael, Groeber, Florian, Schwarz, Thomas, Walles, Heike, Hansmann, Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biology and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Body water
CAD
Computer aided design
Dehydration
Drinking (Physiology)
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic waves
Engineering and Technology
Equivalence
Feasibility Studies
Free water
Hospitals
Humans
Hydration
Internet
Medical devices
Medical equipment
Medicine and Health Sciences
Microwave detectors
Microwaves
Mimicry
Models, Biological
Morbidity
Oncology
Personal health
Physical Sciences
Physiological aspects
Salts
Sensors
Signal generation
Skin
Skin - chemistry
Technology
Tissue engineering
Water - analysis
Water chemistry
Wearable technology
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Summary:Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis--hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a microwave-based sensor technology for the non-invasive measurement of the hydration status. Electromagnetic waves at high frequencies interact with molecules, especially water. Hence, if a sample contains free water molecules, this can be detected in a reflected microwave signal. To develop the sensor system, human three-dimensional skin equivalents were instituted as a standardized test platform mimicking reproducible exsiccosis scenarios. Therefore, skin equivalents with a specific hydration and density of matrix components were generated and microwave measurements were performed. Hydration-specific spectra allowed deriving the hydration state of the skin models. A further advantage of the skin equivalents was the characterization of the impact of distinct skin components on the measured signals to investigate mechanisms of signal generation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive microwave-based hydration sensor technology. The sensor bears potential to be integrated in a wearable medical device for personal health monitoring.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0153145