Connected anti-stress patch measures your anxiety in real time

A patch-like connected sensor promises to revolutionize stress diagnosis, including in children and frail patients. It measures heart rate, respiration and perspiration.

Stress is no longer the exception, but the norm, and its effects are not confined to the mind: they have repercussions on sleep and skin, and can turn into physical symptoms such as headaches or hair loss. (...) Today, there is no simple, continuous, non-invasive method of detecting it, particularly in young children or people unable to communicate.

The "smart patch" that reads the body

The solution comes from Northwestern University, where a team of engineers and doctors has developed a device that looks like something straight out of a laboratory of the future: a small, connected sensor, the size of a bandage, capable of monitoring physiological stress in real time. The project, published in the journal Science Advances, modernizes the concept of the polygraph, that is, the famous "lie detector".

But here, it's not a question of detecting lies: it's the body's reactions that are scrutinized. The device, developed by John A. Rogers' team, weighs less than 8 grams and is applied to the chest. It incorporates sensors for heart rate, respiration, skin temperature and perspiration, as well as a microphone and accelerometer to record acoustic and mechanical signals from the heart and lungs.

Real-time data and artificial intelligence

All the information gathered is sent to a smartphone or connected watch, where machine learning algorithms interpret physiological profiles. The system is capable of operating for more than 24 consecutive hours, creating a continuous monitoring of the body's state of activation.

The idea grew out of a practical need for doctors at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital to understand when infants and children are under stress, without the need for blood tests or invasive procedures. In minor cases, crying or facial expressions are not enough to provide a reliable diagnosis.

Technology designed for those who can't speak

The intelligent patch opens up much wider perspectives than just pediatric medicine. It could also be used in the elderly, intensive care patients or people with communication difficulties, offering a "biological voice" to those unable to express their condition. According to the researchers, the system can even help people who do not perceive their own stress levels, by intercepting the signals that precede the deterioration of their psychophysical state.

From good stress to chronic stress

Specialists emphasize that stress is not always negative: it's the body's natural response. But when it becomes chronic, it can permanently alter the body's functioning, modifying neurological circuits and increasing vulnerability to physical and psychological disorders. This is why the aim of the new device is so clear: to pinpoint the moment when stress crosses a critical threshold, so as to enable rapid intervention before it becomes deleterious. A technology that doesn't just measure the body, but tries to detect its fragility before it becomes a disease.

Source : Science Advances