Having blood drawn, sending samples to a lab, waiting for results: Monitoring metabolic health often involves time-consuming tests. Two master's students at the University of Duisburg-Essen want to change that. With their project VitaMetis, they are developing a wearable sensor system designed to continuously monitor several metabolic parameters without invasive procedures. Their idea has earned Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi and Abdullah Osman Gwela a place in the nationwide COSIMA competition. On November 12 and 13, they will present their project at electronica, the international electronics trade fair in Munich.

Urea, vitamins, and even hormones: One day, monitoring these substances could be as easy as tracking your heart rate or movement with a smartwatch. That is the vision of Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi (27) and Abdullah Osman Gwela (28), both master's students in electrical engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). "Where the body speaks and technology listens" – this idea is at the heart of VitaMetis, a project they have been working on for more than a year. In Munich, they will present a working prototype.

Here is how VitaMetis is designed to work: A small sensor patch worn on the skin continuously measures various metabolic parameters. It uses an optical method to detect specific substances in sweat and determine their concentrations. The technology relies on tiny carbon tubes known as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The underlying CNT sensor technology was brought to application readiness at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg. A handheld scanner can then read the data from the patch – without drawing blood or penetrating the skin.

There is still a long way to go before VitaMetis is ready for the market. But the two students have a clear goal: "We want to develop a technology that benefits as many people as possible – whether they are healthy individuals, athletes, pregnant women, or patients with kidney disease," explains Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi. "In countries with limited access to healthcare, such as Libya, where we come from, a wearable sensor system like VitaMetis could make a real difference," adds Abdullah Osman Gwela.

The students have already secured sponsors to help bring their idea to life. They also receive support from the university and their supervisor, Prof. Dr. Karsten Seidl, from the Electronic Devices and Circuits research group. And their ambition for Munich is clear: "We're going to Munich," Algamoudi declares, "to win COSIMA!"

COSIMA: A Stepping Stone to International Success
Organized by the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE), the COSIMA competition is open to student teams developing innovative applications in microsystems technology. Among other prizes, the top three teams earn the opportunity to qualify for an international competition.