Xi’an Jiaotong University Initiates Clinical Study on High-Concentration Wearable Sweat Lactate Sensor for Critically Ill Patients

August 9, 2026

ClinicalTrials.gov China

Overview

Xi’an Jiaotong University’s Second Affiliated Hospital launched a clinical study on August 1, 2026, to evaluate a wearable sweat sensor for continuous, non-invasive lactate monitoring in critically ill patients. This innovative device, capable of detecting lactate up to 100 mmol/L with high sensitivity, aims to correlate sweat and blood lactate levels for earlier diagnosis and improved management of critical conditions like sepsis. Successful validation could transform real-time patient monitoring, enhancing timely interventions and improving patient outcomes in acute care settings.

In Depth

Key Findings

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University in China announced the launch of a clinical study on August 1, 2026, for a wearable sweat sensor designed for continuous, non-invasive lactate monitoring in critically ill patients. This research seeks to validate the strong correlation between sweat and blood lactate levels, with the ultimate goal of enabling real-time diagnostics and early detection of disease progression in acute conditions such as sepsis.

Technical & Clinical Details

The developed wearable sensor boasts the capability to measure high concentrations of sweat lactate, up to 100 mmol/L. It features a high sensitivity of 89 nA/(cm²·mM) and a rapid response time of just 150 seconds. The device integrates temperature and pH sensors for enhanced accuracy and automated calibration. The system comprises a microfluidic sweat collection device, a hydrogel patch for electrically induced non-exercise perspiration, and a flexible integrated circuit with an intelligent display system.

Current clinical practice relies on intermittent blood draws for lactate measurement, which is invasive, time-consuming, and can delay critical interventions in rapidly evolving patient conditions. This wearable sensor, by providing continuous data directly from the skin, allows healthcare providers to monitor patient status in real-time. This has the potential to optimize the timing of therapeutic interventions and improve survival rates in life-threatening conditions like sepsis.

Background & Context

Lactate is a crucial biomarker indicating tissue hypoxia and metabolic dysfunction, essential for managing patients with sepsis, heart failure, and shock. However, existing invasive blood tests present challenges such as patient discomfort, infection risks from frequent sampling, and significant time delays in obtaining results. Wearable sensors are rapidly evolving as a non-invasive, continuous monitoring solution to overcome these limitations.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

If successful, this clinical study could position the wearable sweat lactate sensor as a standard monitoring tool in emergency departments and intensive care units (ICUs). Future developments are expected to integrate the simultaneous measurement of other metabolites and drug concentrations, evolving into a more comprehensive patient management system. This advancement promises to improve prognoses for critically ill patients and open new avenues for digital healthcare applications, including chronic disease home monitoring and sports medicine.

Source: https://www.patlynk.com/trial/NCT07716371

Get our weekly technology intelligence — free

Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.

Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence

By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.