Development of the healthcare device for electrical evaluation and control of skin function

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22490
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0403:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Abe Yuina 東北大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (80881953)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 生体計測 / 電気化学 / 研究皮膚科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The system for evaluating the health condition of the indispensable skin tissue, the epidermis, which works as a barrier of the whole body by electrical index called transepidermal potential, was developed. In order to measure the epidermal potential inside the tissue with the tickness of ca. 0.1 mm, the electrode was connected through the small needles called microneedle. The measuring system was integrated into a wearable device based on the thin and flexible electrode and the potential monitoring for several hours was successfully performed.

Free Research Field

生体計測

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

皮膚の最前線を守る表皮組織の機能には，イオンをなかだちとした電気化学的なシグナルが関与すると考えられている．表皮電位に基づく評価法は，その機序解明や，これを応用した治療法開発など，学術研究と応用の双方において有効なツールとなることが期待できる．特に，新たに開発した低侵襲かつ簡便なパッチ型のウェアラブル計測デバイスは幅広い環境に対応でき，日常的なスキンケアへの応用にも好適である．