牙齿微型贴片传感器诞生

A new sensor worn on teeth records everything a person eats or drinks in a day.

The sensor, which is mounted directly on to a tooth and connects wirelessly to a user’s mobile phone, records information on their sugar, salt and alcohol intakes, a study by Tufts University found.

The researchers believe the device could help people manage their nutritional* inputs, leading to improved health and diet outcomes.

Such sensors could also be used to monitor dental health, as well as potentially collect saliva* samples to measure wellbeing complications, such as fatigue*, they add.

Measuring just 2x2 mm, the device overcomes previous limitations of such technologies, including requiring users wear a mouth guard, and adheres well to uneven teeth surfaces.

Study author Fiorenzo Omenetto said: “In theory we can modify the bioresponsive* layer in these sensors to target other chemicals. We are really limited only by our creativity. We have extended common RFID* technology to a sensor package that can dynamically read and transmit information on its environment, whether it is affixed to a tooth, to skin, or any other surface.”

This comes after research released last October suggested new flashy dental braces that include lights and a battery on every tooth, could cut the time and costs involved in straightening teeth.(SD-Agencies)