Smart rings already track things like heart health and sleep. A new study suggests they may also be able to track chemicals in sweat.
In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the University of California, San Diego built a prototype ring called the Continuous Health Analyzing Ring Module, or CHARM. The ring clamps around a person’s finger and wirelessly shares data with a smartphone.
Instead of drawing blood or requiring the wearer to exercise to produce sweat, the ring uses an osmotic hydrogel to naturally draw sweat out. That sweat then passes through electrochemical sensors that track changes in six biomarkers: glucose, ketone, ascorbic acid, uric acid, lactate and alcohol. The system can measure four at a time.
The researchers said those readings could offer another view of how a person responds to nutrition and exercise. The study also said continuous glucose and ketone monitoring may help determine optimal insulin dosage, especially for people with diabetes.
“Commercial rings only provide biophysical information, but they lack molecular information about biochemical markers that offer deeper insights about an individual’s health status,” Tamoghna Saha, a postdoctoral researcher and the study’s first author, said in a statement.
In trials involving participants with and without Type 1 diabetes, CHARM’s sweat analysis closely matched glucose measurements from a continuous glucose monitor. Its ketone readings also matched a traditional blood meter, according to the study.
The researchers also said the device still needs more testing. The study said it must be “validated comprehensively” in different clinical settings and across the “full glycemic spectrum” before it could be considered an alternative to existing tools.
The paper also said “sustained multi-day monitoring will also require further advances in hydrogel engineering.” Battery life is another limitation. The ring lasts 12 hours on a charge and does not include a convenient way to recharge.
The study points to a possible next step for smart rings, which currently rely largely on optical sensors. The paper said the prototype combines chemical sensing with a ring form factor and sends the data to a smartphone. The ring lasts 12 hours on a charge and does not include a convenient way to recharge.
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