New patent reveals Apple Watch could feature hydration tracking sensor

A new Apple Watch patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveals that the smartwatch could offer hydration level tracking in future models. Titled “Hydration measurement with a watch” the patent details a non-invasive method to track hydration via a sensor to measure the electrical properties of the user’s sweat.

The company is reportedly pushing the functionality of the Apple Watch as a health device by offering more non-invasive methods of tracking glucose, blood pressure, alcohol, and other health conditions directly from the wrist in future smartwatch models.

Recently, Apple’s partner Rockley Photonics announced a new full-stack, “clinic-on-the-wrist” digital health sensor system for wearable devices which will be able to monitor multiple biomarkers via non-invasive means like blood pressure, alcohol, glucose levels, body temperature, lactate, body hydration, and more. Maybe the new patent is developed on the Rockley Photonics new sensor system.

Apple is working on a reliable and elegant solution to track hydration levels via Apple Watch

Spotted by Patently Apple, the new capability will deliver “reliable and elegant solutions” to users to track hydration levels on their Apple Watch and will also provide helpful suggestions to improve users’ fitness and health.

The new patent describes a mechanism to use sensors for non-invasive tracking hydration.

Hydration measurement capabilities can be provided by a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, to allow a user to easily track hydration. A watch can be positioned to receive and measure one or more electrical properties of perspiration produced by the user wearing the watch. The watch provides electrodes for measuring the electrical properties of the perspiration.

The electrical properties, such as electrical conductance, can represent a concentration of electrolytes in the perspiration, which in turn represents a hydration level of the user. The hydration tracking can be performed non-invasively, repeatedly, accurately, automatically, and with minimal user intervention. The measurements can be used to provide useful feedback and health tracking information to a user, thereby allowing the user to better manage hydration and overall health.

The publisher notes that hydration measurements can be very useful for users’ health for “hydration level has significant impacts on the health of a user. Dehydration can impair performance and is associated with several deleterious health consequences, including heat strokes. Overdrinking can result in hyponatremia, fatigue, confusion, coma, and even death.” And in oppose to traditional invasive, expensive, and unreliable techniques, Apple is working on offering users an easy and reliable way to track hydration levels.