Minimally invasive lactate dynamic monitoring with a skin microperfusion needle

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04544
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90130:Medical systems-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuruoka Noriko 東北大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (70757632)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 芳賀 洋一 東北大学, 医工学研究科, 教授 (00282096) ; 永富 良一 東北大学, 医工学研究科, 教授 (20208028) ; 川副 友 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 非常勤講師 (70405421)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 微小還流 / 乳酸センサ / 連続計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A lactate monitoring system based on skin microperfusion was developed to clarify the dynamics of lactate concentration during exercise. The skin microperfusion needle, which is used for lactate collection, has micro flow channel which covered by perforated membrane (the hole diameter is 10 um) on the surface of the needle. Because of the large diameter of the holes on the surface, it became clear that push-pull or pull-pumping was necessary because perfusate leaked into the skin when perfusate flowed using a push pump while the needle was inserted into the skin. Therefore, we fabricated and evaluated an enzyme electrode sensor with bubble removal flow channel that can continuously measure lactate concentration as the lactate concentration sensor part in the microperfusion system. By placing a hydrophobic porous membrane between two layers of flow channels, it prevents bubbles from flowing into the enzyme sensor and enabling continuous measurement of lactate concentration.

Free Research Field

医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、運動時の乳酸濃度動態を明らかとすることを目的として運動時連続測定可能な乳酸センサシステムを開発した。極細径で痛みのない針を1 mm程度の浅い皮膚に刺入しただけで計測が可能なため、アスリート向けのトレーニング用乳酸濃度モニタや生活習慣病予防のための運動の習慣化に役立つだけでなく、術後の虚血モニタや敗血症の兆候モニタなど医療分野にも広く応用が期待される。