Wearable systems, devices, and methods for measurement and analysis of body fluids

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described herein for various embodiments of using a sample analysis system to analyze a sample of bodily fluid from a user to determine parameters associated with the user including states of hydration, dehydration, rehydration, electrolyte loss, wellness, recovery, and the like. In some embodiments, the methods disclosed can be implemented using a device worn by a user, and operatively coupled to a sample analysis system configured to collect a sample of bodily fluid, and measure and analyze the bodily fluid to determine a property of the bodily fluid and/or a physiological/wellness parameter (e.g., degree of hydration, electrolyte losses, perspiration rate, etc.) of the user.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 directing a sample of bodily fluid from a sample collection region of a device to a first electrochemical interface;   applying a first excitation signal from the first electrochemical interface to a portion of the sample of bodily fluid present at the first electrochemical interface;   sensing, at a first time point, a first response signal in response to applying the first excitation signal;   measuring, based on the first response signal, a first impedance data related to the portion of the sample of bodily fluid;   directing the sample of bodily fluid from the first electrochemical interface through a flow channel to a second electrochemical interface;   applying a second excitation signal from the second electrochemical interface to the sample of bodily fluid present at the second electrochemical interface;   sensing a second response signal in response to applying the second excitation signal;   measuring, based on the second response signal, a second impedance data related to the sample of bodily fluid;   comparing the second impedance data to the first impedance data to identify a second time point when the portion of the sample of bodily fluid flows past the second electrochemical interface based on a similarity between the first impedance data and the second impedance data; and   determining, based on the first time point, the second time point, a flow rate of the portion of the sample of bodily fluid through the flow channel.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 obtaining information associated with physiology of a user; and   determining, based on the information associated with physiology of the user, and the flow rate of the portion of the sample of bodily fluid, a property of a source of bodily fluid from which the sample of bodily fluid was collected.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the source of bodily fluid is sweat, and the property of the source of bodily fluid is perspiration rate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the first impedance data or the second impedance data related to the portion of the sample of bodily fluid, an osmolality associated with the portion of the sample of bodily fluid;   obtaining information associated with physiology of a user; and   calculating, based on the osmolality and the information associated with physiology of the user, an electrolyte content associated with a source of bodily fluid from which the sample of bodily fluid was collected.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising
 obtaining information associated with physiology of a user;   obtaining information associated with behavior of the user, the behavior being related to fluid intake or fluid outflow; and   determining, based on at least one of the information associated with physiology of the user, information associated with behavior of the user, or the flow rate of the portion of the sample of bodily fluid, a rate of change in hydration of the user.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving a temperature associated with the sample of bodily fluid; and   calculating, based on the temperature, a temperature-corrected first impedance data and a temperature-corrected second impedance data related to the portion of the sample of bodily fluid.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving a temperature associated with a body of a user;   obtaining information associated with physiology of the user; and   determining based on the temperature, the information associated with physiology of the user, and the flow rate of the portion of the sample of bodily fluid, a core body temperature of the user.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first electrochemical interface includes a first excitation electrode and a first sensing electrode, and the second electrochemical interface includes a second excitation electrode and a second sensing electrode. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second excitation electrode is the same as the first excitation electrode. 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 directing a sample bodily fluid from a sample collection region of a device through a flow channel and past a first electrochemical interface and a second electrochemical interface;   applying a first excitation signal from the first electrochemical interface and a second excitation signal from the second electrochemical interface;   determining at a first time point, a first impedance associated with a portion of the sample bodily fluid in contact with the first electrochemical interface;   determining a second impedance associated with the portion of the sample bodily fluid in contact with the second electrochemical interface;   comparing the second impedance to the first impedance to identify a second time point when the portion of the sample of bodily fluid flows past the second electrochemical interface based on a similarity between the first impedance and the second impedance; and   calculating a flow rate of the sample bodily fluid through the flow channel based on the difference between the first time point and the second time point.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the sample bodily fluid includes sweat, the method further comprising:
 calculating, based on the first impedance, the second impedance, and the flow rate, a rate of perspiration of a user.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving a temperature associated with the sample of bodily fluid; and   calculating based on the temperature, a temperature-corrected first impedance and a temperature-corrected second impedance, the rate of perspiration being calculated based on the temperature-corrected first impedance and the temperature-corrected second impedance.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving a temperature associated with the user's skin;   receiving information associated with physiology of the user; and   determining based on the temperature, the information associated with physiology of the user, and the rate of perspiration, a core body temperature of the user.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving information associated with physiology of the user; and   determining, based on the information associated with physiology of the user, and the rate of perspiration, a state of hydration of the user.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving information associated with physiology of the user; and   determining, based on the information associated with physiology of the user, and the rate of perspiration, a loss of electrolytes suffered by the user.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 calculating, based on the perspiration rate, a cumulative fluid loss over a period of time.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 estimating, based on the cumulative fluid loss over the period of time and information associated with physiology of the user, a full body fluid loss over the period of time.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the first impedance of the second impedance, an osmolality associated with the portion of the sample bodily fluid;   receiving information associated with physiology of a user; and   calculating, based on the osmolality and the information associated with physiology of the user, an electrolyte content associated with a source of bodily fluid in the sample collection region from which the sample bodily fluid was directed.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 calculating, based on the electrolyte content associated with the source of bodily fluid, a cumulative electrolyte loss over a period of time.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 estimating, based on the cumulative electrolyte loss over the period of time and the information associated with physiology of the user, a full body electrolyte loss over the period of time.