SMART device to monitor hydration in athletes
This project will develop a device that can monitor the amount of water a patient has consumed (hydration) and compare to the amount water that is lost (dehydration). This novel device will be as simple as a heart rate monitor that is applied to a person’s chest. Our device will measure the amount of water that is actively involved in bodily functions but doesn’t include fluid in organs or tissues. Too much water (hyperhydration) and not enough water (dehydration) has significant detrimental affects which will influence the health and well-being of a patient. A worst case scenario for dehydration is poor recovery, organ damage and death. Monitoring hydration levels in the patient is therefore important. However, hospitals measure water content in blood or urine samples which must be sent from the patient to a laboratory for analysis. This makes time critical especially when decisions for patient survival are urgent and difficult. Our hydration device will be tested by clinicians providing a new tool for monitoring patients in critical care or emergency scenarios and during routine observations.
The proposed work will provide added benefit to both patients and public with development of a SMART diagnostic tool which has the potential to monitor real-time hydration changes in the clinic, GP surgery or at home.
The project supports Wesleigh Dawsleigh during his PhD studentship (2016-2020) and involves a number of collaborators at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
Healthy volunteers needed.
If you would like to participate in this research project, please contact Tina. This study has been approved by the QM Research Ethics committee (QMREC2013/42) and will provide valuable data which will support the viability of the product during testing.