Development of a new method for monitoring blood lactate using a wearable device equipped with a microfluidic circuit

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16516
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Takatomo 岐阜大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (30509435)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 汗中乳酸 / ウェアラブルデバイス / 心臓リハビリテーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have already reported that there is a correlation between lactate in sweat and blood lactate. However, the problem was that it was difficult to measure lactate in trace amounts of sweat. Therefore, we initially attempted to apply a micro sweat collection patch using a micro flow circuit, but as a result, it was difficult to measure trace amounts of sweat. We proposed a solution using a sponge, which is a porous cellulose material with high water absorbency, and suggested the possibility of monitoring lactic acid in sweat more sensitively even in trace amounts of perspiration. The results of this study suggest that anaerobic metabolic threshold may be estimated by monitoring trace amounts of sweat lactate when cardiopulmonary exercise test cannot be performed. We plan to conduct a prospective clinical study for application in the field of cardiac rehabilitation, and to establish clinical evidence.

Free Research Field

心臓リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果、微量汗中乳酸モニタリングにより血中乳酸濃度の上昇タイミングを予測することが可能となったことは学術的意義が高い。心臓リハビリテーションにおける運動処方は、嫌気性代謝閾値(AT)以下の強度で処方することが推奨されているが、現状はATを推定するためには心肺運動負荷試験(CPX)を行うしかない。しかし、CPXは高額な機器を要し結果の判読にも熟練を要することから、十分に普及しておらず、これが心リハの普及が遅れている原因である。本研究の結果により、簡便にATが推定でき、日常の運動療法中にもモニタリングが可能となるため、心リハの普及の一助となる可能性があり、社会的意義は大きいと考えられる。