(Keynote) Soft Microfluidic Analysis Systems for the Skin

Recent advances in materials science, chemical engineering and mechanics design establish the foundations for high performance classes of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technologies that have physical properties matched those of the human skin. The resulting devices can integrate with the surface of the skin in a water-tight yet physically imperceptible fashion, to provide real-time measurements of sweat rate and total sweat loss, along with continuous, clinical-quality biochemical information on physiological status using a combination of colorimetric and electrochemical techniques. This talk summarizes the key ideas and presents application examples in sports performance, worker safety, medical diagnostics and nutritional monitoring.