Developed a Sensor for Tracking Food Habits

Developed a sensor that tracks human eating habits, and in its work no surveillance cameras or robotic technologies are involved. A tiny sensor measuring 2-3 mm placed on the surface of the tooth, where information kept about all the substances used, for example, salt, glucose, alcohol. The device developed at the Tufts University Engineering School.

Sensor for Tracking Food Habits Advantages

Novelty has two important advantages - small dimensions and the ability to transmit data wirelessly on the radio wave. The sensor consists of three layers, capable of capturing and transmitting data. The middle layer acts as a chemical detector and nutrients, when interacting with a sensor. Two outer layers made in the form of a pair of gold rings, they change color in response to the frequency of radio waves emanating from the substances, indicating which elements are now present in the mouth. As a result, there is a complete collection of data on what substances enter the oral cavity.

This sensor is not a unique idea, but it has several advantages over early prototypes and allows you more closely monitor the human eating habits in order to preserve the health of the body. For the first time, a similar sensor introduced in 2013 and created by a team from the National Taiwan University (Department of Science and Information Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering). That prototype could transmit data about the state of the oral cavity so that the dentist could give individual recommendations to the patient to maintain oral health. With the help of this technology, the doctor could observe the patient's bad habits, which the patient did not want to tell or simply did not know (many people often try to embellish the answers to the doctor's questions and are not always frank). The prototype was too large placed on a live tooth - 11-12 mm. The only way to put it in your mouth was to install it on an artificial crown.

Using a Sensor to Track Food Habits

It is as sum that similar sensors can revolutionize the prevention of dental, gum disease, and other diseases.

"Theoretically, you can adjust the sensor so that it signals the receipt of certain substances in the mouth," - said Dr. Fiorenzo Ometetto, one of the authors of the work. The second author is Frank C. Doble, a professor of engineering at Tufts University.

"We have expanded the capabilities of the technology of substance identification with the help of radio frequencies so that the sensor is able to evaluate and transmit data about its environment. Moreover, you can attach the sensor not only to the tooth, but also to the skin and any other surface. "