CFTrack: Advanced\nDiagnostic, Monitoring, and Tracking\nDevice for Cystic Fibrosis Care

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that primarily\naffects\nthe respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. In the United\nStates, approximately 32,000 individuals, spanning both children and\nadults, suffer from CF, and roughly 1,000 new cases are diagnosed\nannually. The current gold standard for CF diagnosis is the sweat\ntest, yet this method is plagued by issues such as being time-consuming,\nexpensive, challenging to replicate, and lacking treatment monitoring\ncapabilities. In contrast, the emerging field of wearable sweat biosensors\nhas gained significant attention due to their potential for noninvasive\nhealth monitoring. Despite this, there remains a conspicuous absence\nof a wearable sweat biosensor tailored specifically for CF diagnosis\nand monitoring. Here, this study introduces a flexible wearable sweat\nbiosensor, named CFTrack, designed to address the unique challenges\nassociated with CF. This proposed CFTrack biosensor not only facilitates\nCF diagnosis but also enables the monitoring of medication treatment\neffectiveness and tracks therapy activities. In addition, it operates\nin a self-powered and customized manner, ensuring seamless integration\ninto the daily lives of individuals with CF. Given that sweat tests\nand fitness routines are the predominant methods for diagnosing and\ntreating cystic fibrosis patients, respectively, the proposed CFTrack\nbiosensor leverages ion concentration in sweat for diagnostic purposes.\nAdditionally, it incorporates a motion-tracking function to monitor\nphysical activity, providing a comprehensive approach to CF management.\nTo evaluate the feasibility of the proposed CFTrack biosensor, a comprehensive\nevaluation has been performed including numerical simulations, theoretical\nanalyses, and experimental tests. The results demonstrate the efficacy\nof the proposed CFTrack biosensor in diagnosing and monitoring CF\nconditions while also showcasing its ability to effectively track\nthe progress of patients undergoing physical therapy. The proposed\nCFTrack biosensor resolves key issues associated with existing sweat\nsensors including high energy consumption, intricate fabrication procedures,\nand the absence of continuous monitoring capabilities. By addressing\nthese challenges, the proposed sweat biosensor aims to revolutionize\nCF diagnosis and monitoring, offering a more efficient and user-friendly\nalternative to current methods.