Project Description: 

We are HydroSense, and our device is a wearable hydration monitor that seeks to notify users of their hydration status in real time. Upwards of 500,000 individuals are admitted into U.S. hospitals every year with a primary diagnosis of dehydration, incurring nearly $5.5 billion in treatment costs annually. Approximately 90% of dehydration related hospital admissions are classified as emergency or urgent, and nearly 10,000 patients die from dehydration annually. Competitive athletes are uniquely affected by dehydration risks. Athletes experience challenges including high intensity activity, outdoor competition environments, and restricted access to hydration mid-competition. Considering as little as 60 minutes of intense outdoor activity can result in substantial dehydration, athletes are at high risk of performance deficits, cramps, fatigue, and even heat exhaustion when not properly hydrated.
While advanced hydration metrics such as plasma osmolality or electrolyte concentrations can be accurately assessed post hoc in clinical settings, preventative monitoring is severely lacking. The purpose of our project was to devise a solution that can accurately monitor patient hydration status in real time, relaying both current hydration data and rehydration recommendations to trainers, coaches, and athletes alike. Our device uses two electrodes placed flush under the user’s wrist to ascertain bioimpedance at the skin surface, using this value to assess the user’s dehydration status. Status information is relayed to a “control room” front-end app, where coaches and trainers can monitor multiple athletes simultaneously, tracking their real-time metrics and hydration history. The device is designed as an attachment that will snuggly fit in between the wrist and the strap of an existing watch, fitness band, or even everyday bracelet. Ultimately, we believe our novel app interface and attachment design will help HydroSense succeed in the dehydration monitoring space.