초록 ▼

There is provided a system and method for evaluating skin hydration and fluid compartmentalization. The system includes a microneedle array configured to extract fluid from an interstitial space and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure differential between the interstitial space and am

There is provided a system and method for evaluating skin hydration and fluid compartmentalization. The system includes a microneedle array configured to extract fluid from an interstitial space and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure differential between the interstitial space and ambient pressure during extraction of the fluid. A processor coupled to the pressure sensor is configured to compute a hydration index based on the pressure differential. A display coupled to the processor is configured to display the hydration index.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining hydration comprising: extracting fluid through microneedles inserted into skin; determining the pressure gradient required to extract the fluid; and determining a hydration index based on the pressure gradient. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the

What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining hydration comprising: extracting fluid through microneedles inserted into skin; determining the pressure gradient required to extract the fluid; and determining a hydration index based on the pressure gradient. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydration index is representative of the hydration of the skin. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydration index is representative of the hydration of the body. 4. The method of claim 1 comprising combining a skin thickness value with the pressure gradient to determine the volume of a compartment of the skin. 5. The method of claim 1 comprising measuring blood specific analytes in the fluid to determine leakage from a vascular compartment. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the blood specific analytes comprise albumin or other plasma proteins. 7. The method of claim 1 comprising measuring inflammation-specific analyte concentration. 8. The method of claim 1 comprising measuring intracellular-specific analyte concentrations to assess the contribution of intercellular fluid. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the measuring intracellular-specific analyte concentration comprises measuring potassium concentration. 10. The method of claim 8 comprising quantifying the extent of cellular trauma in response to insertion of microneedles based on the contribution of intercellular fluid. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the hydration index based on the pressure gradient comprises determining whether the fluid has a positive pressure differential relative to ambient pressure. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the pressure gradient required to extract the fluid comprises measuring the amount of pressure required to extract the interstitial fluid. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the hydration index comprises correlating the measured pressure required to extract the interstitial fluid with a volume of free fluid in an interstitial space. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the pressure gradient required to extract the fluid comprises using a calibration factor to compensate for resistance of fluid flow caused by the microneedles.