Xerox Parc, a legendary R&D center, developed a new smart mouthguard biosensor that can accurately detect early signs of exhaustion, dehydration and mental engagement levels simply from receiving a sample of saliva. Developed in conjunction with NextFlex and the University of California, this new smart wearable leverages an electrochemical sensor system "fabricated on a small, flexible plastic foil." The electronics in the sensor are protected from saliva via an encapsulant, which also encompasses all the electronics used in the device.
The sensor on the smart mouthguard biosensor was designed to be replaceable and interchangeable with other sensors more attuned to detecting glucose, uric acid and more. While the current version of the smart mouthguard biosensor is a proof-of-concept, Xerox Parc hopes that later versions of the mouthguard can find applications in sports, workouts and military fields.
Image Credit: NextFlex
What's Driving This Trend
- Smart Wearables
- Opportunity to develop innovative wearable devices that can track physical and mental states through biosensor technology.
- Biosensor Technology
- Potential for the advancement of biosensors to accurately detect various parameters through saliva samples, opening new possibilities for health monitoring.
- Replaceable Sensors
- Disruptive potential in creating a market for interchangeable sensors that can be tailored to specific detection needs, such as glucose monitoring or uric acid levels.
Who This Affects Most
- Sports
- Innovative opportunities to integrate performance-tracking mouthguards in sports to monitor athlete fatigue, hydration levels, and mental engagement.
- Healthcare
- Potential application of smart mouthguard biosensors in healthcare settings for enhanced patient monitoring and early detection of exhaustion or dehydration.
- Military
- Integrating smart mouthguard biosensors in military training can provide real-time insights on soldiers' physical and mental state, improving performance and safety.
