Shape of things to comeNew, quick test for dehydration
In-the-field exertions by soldiers and first responders may cause dehydration, the result of fluid loss of only a few percent of body weight; Philips offers a transducer which measures how much the skin deforms when sucked — a clear indication of dehydration
Dehydration can be a serious consequence of many medical conditions — and of in-the-field exertions by soldiers and first responders. Fluid loss of only a few percent of body weight causes a patient to become tired and irritable with symptoms of dry mouth, disorientation, and irregular heartbeat. Trouble is, diagnosing dehydration is not a straightforward proposition and usually involves testing the urine or blood in a lab, which is both costly and time consuming. Now electronics giant Philips says another way is to measure the stiffness of the skin since it becomes more turgid as dehydration progresses. This can be done by “sucking” the skin to see how much it distorts. Philips has designed a simple transducer which measures how much the skin deforms when sucked, providing a quick and easy test that can be performed at a patient’s bedside.
-read more in this WIPO patent application
