Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a smart ring able to measure several biomarkers at once from sweat, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.
The device can analyze up to six chemical markers: glucose, ketones, vitamin C, uric acid, lactate and alcohol. It uses a specialized hydrogel that passively absorbs sweat, with no need to exercise to generate a sample, and sends the data wirelessly to a mobile app.
The prototype weighs just 5.1 grams, is about the size of a regular ring, and has a rechargeable battery lasting 12 hours. Its creators present it as a non-invasive alternative to finger-prick testing for people with diabetes, though it remains a research prototype.