According to a new study published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, researchers from the US have fabricated the first wearable sensor to detect and monitor muscle atrophy. Although doctors presently use MRI to determine whether a patient’s muscle volume and size have decreased, routine testing can be time-consuming and expensive. However, in the present study, researchers suggested that an electromagnetic sensor made out of conductive ‘e-threads‘ can be used as an alternative to frequent monitoring using MRI.

Researchers from the Ohio State University fabricated 3D-printed limb molds and filled them with ground beef to simulate the calf tissue of an average-sized human subject. The findings from their simulations showed that the sensor, which resembles a blood pressure cuff, was able to measure small-scale volume changes in overall limb size and monitor muscle loss of up to 51%.

For the gadget to function, the team used two coils, one that transmits and one that receives, along with an e-thread conductor that runs in a specific zig-zag pattern along the fabric. Even though the wearable is still a few years away from being put into use, the study pointed out that the next big step will probably be to connect it to a smartphone app that can be used to record and distribute health information directly to healthcare providers. 

(Source: https://www.gadgetsnow.com/wearables/first-wearable-health-sensor-developed-for-monitoring-muscle-atrophy/articleshow/99048697.cms )