Adaptively resettable microfluidic patch for sweat rate and electrolytes detection

Abstract

Skin-interfaced microfluidic patch has become a reliable device for sweat collection and analysis. However, the intractable problems of emptying the microchannel for reuse, and the channel's volumetric capacity limited by the size of the patch, directly hinder the practical application of sweat sensors. Herein, we report an adaptively resettable microfluidic sweat patch (Art-Sweat patch) capable of continuously monitoring both sweat rate (0.2–4.0 μL min−1) and total ionic charge concentration (10–200 mmol L−1). We develop a platform with a vertical and horizontal microchannel combined strategy, enabling repeatedly filling sweat and emptying the microchannel for autonomously resetting and detecting. The variation in the emptied volume is designed to be adaptively identified by the sensor, resulting in enhanced stability and an enlarged volumetric capacity of over 300 μL. By integrating with self-designed wireless transmission modules, the proposed Art-Sweat patch shows product-level wearability and high performance in monitoring variations in regional sweat rate and concentration for hydration status assessment.