| Project Detail |
Wearable sensing device to detect metabolic syndrome
In Europe, the prevalence of overweight is estimated to be around 50 %, with obesity affecting 16 %. Monitoring these rates is crucial for assessing interventions aimed at preventing or reducing obesity-related health risks and promoting healthier lifestyles. The EU-funded UltraSense project introduces a stretchable multi-sensing platform designed to analyse body composition and monitor overall health. This platform includes compartments for ultrasound, bio-impedance, and G-FET biosensors, enabling precise measurements and biomarker retrieval. The project aims to validate the device for monitoring the effects of exercise and early detection of metabolic syndrome. UltraSense adopts a green material synthesis approach that reduces CO2 emissions by over 70 %. This innovation will provide millions with access to a low-cost, user-friendly device aimed at reducing obesity and metabolic diseases.
The prevalence of overweight among the European population is estimated to be near 50% and the prevalence of obesity around 16%. Monitoring obesity and overweight prevalence is important for assessing interventions aimed at preventing or reducing the burden of obesity and related medical risks and providing the tools for maintaining a healthier lifestyle. UltraSense project introduces the concept of a stretchable multi-sensing platform, as a wearable tool for body composition analysis and overall decentral health monitoring, fostering a sustainable and healthier lifestyle.
The platform will comprise smart features, AI signal processing and advanced stretchable materials, enabling the efficient synergy of three compartments of sensors relying on different technologies:
A. Ultra-sound compartment: delivering precise information about body composition and tissue thickness
B. Bioimpedance compartment: fast and reliable measuring of the percentage of fat, water and muscle
C. G-FET biosensor compartment: Biomarker retrieval via sweating at atto-Molar sensitivity in miniaturized footprint
The wearable device will be validate in two use cases:
1. The effect of sport on a healthier lifestyle: monitoring the overall health of people who exercise
2. Early detection and continuous monitoring of metabolic syndrome.
Ultra-Senses data will be displayed to the user with consistency and reliability, so that medical advice can be sought.
The green and circular material synthesis approaches of the project will reduce the related CO2 emissions by more than 70% from solvent processing. UltraSense will have a huge societal and economic impact: 700k devices will be sold annually already by 2032 for 105M€ of revenues reaching a 10% market share and associated with 20 new jobs. Millions of people will have access to low-cost, easy to use device informing of their body composition helping them improve their lifestyle, reducing obesity and metabolic diseases, and related treatment costs. |
