electrolytes

12.03.08

A Stick-Free Sensor

Scientists develop a biofeedback electrolyte sensor that works well above an athlete's skin

By Brett Zarda Posted 07.23.2008 at 3:51 pm 0 Comments

Real time biofeedback from athletes is popping up everywhere. From heart rate monitors to electrolyte sensors, there’s a push to know what’s happening inside the body. For each sensor, a good ‘connection’ to the body is critical for obtaining accurate data but that often requires that something be stuck to the athlete. Now, a new technology developed by ConText, a European research collaboration, hopes to monitor EMG signals without attaching to, or getting under, an athlete’s skin.

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READ MORE ABOUT > athletics, biofeedback, Brett Zarda, electrolytes, sensors, sports science, the score

The Newest Performance Booster

A sensor that measures electrolyte levels in real-time could help athletes optimize on the go

By Brett Zarda Posted 06.06.2008 at 12:47 pm 2 Comments

The Biotex Sensor: BioTex

Gatorade goes to great lengths to determine if “It” is in you. Sweat patches slapped on Maria Sharapova and Tiger Woods provide before and after snapshots of electrolyte levels and sweat rate. But, what about during competition? Swiss company Biotex is developing a garment with wireless sensors embedded in the lower back to provide real-time values for similar metrics. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic material draws the sweat into flexible sensors just two millimeters thick and a few square centimeters. Data can be stored for future analysis or transmitted to wireless phones or PDAs so athletes know to hit the water fountain before it’s too late.

“It’s like driving a car around town, if you don’t watch your gas gauge it will be too late and you’ll be empty,” said Project Coordinator Jean Luprano. “You need to know whether to slow down or if you can go faster.”

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READ MORE ABOUT > athletic performance, Brett Zarda, electrolytes, gatorade, sensors, sweat

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