@article{BrendtkeWiehlGroeberetal.2016,
  author    = {Brendtke, Rico and Wiehl, Michael and Groeber, Florian and Schwarz, Thomas and Walles, Heike and Hansmann, Jan},
  title     = {Feasibility Study on a Microwave-Based Sensor for Measuring Hydration Level Using Human Skin Models},
  series = {PLoS ONE},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {PLoS ONE},
  number    = {4},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0153145},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179934},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis—hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a microwave-based sensor technology for the non-invasive measurement of the hydration status. Electromagnetic waves at high frequencies interact with molecules, especially water. Hence, if a sample contains free water molecules, this can be detected in a reflected microwave signal. To develop the sensor system, human three-dimensional skin equivalents were instituted as a standardized test platform mimicking reproducible exsiccosis scenarios. Therefore, skin equivalents with a specific hydration and density of matrix components were generated and microwave measurements were performed. Hydration-specific spectra allowed deriving the hydration state of the skin models. A further advantage of the skin equivalents was the characterization of the impact of distinct skin components on the measured signals to investigate mechanisms of signal generation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive microwave-based hydration sensor technology. The sensor bears potential to be integrated in a wearable medical device for personal health monitoring.},
  language  = {en}
}