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CortiTrack: Wearable for Continuous Cortisol Monitoring
- Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Course: EN.520.487 Clinical Diagnostic Devices and Methods
- Year: 2025
Project Description:
CortiTrack is developing a novel continuous cortisol monitoring system through a wearable patch that transforms how stress-related conditions are managed. Our innovation solves the critical gap in stress measurement by providing real-time cortisol data where only subjective reporting or infrequent lab tests existed before.
The system combines three key elements: painless microneedle technology that accesses interstitial fluid just beneath the skin, advanced electrochemical sensors that specifically detect cortisol molecules, and a companion app that translates this data into actionable health insights. This allows users to identify stress triggers, optimize treatment timing, and validate intervention effectiveness with objective biological feedback.
By making the invisible stress visible and actionable, CortiTrack revolutionizes stress management for anxiety disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic conditions—giving patients and clinicians unprecedented control over the body’s stress response and transforming how chronic diseases are managed.
Project Photo:
Capturing the moment that our team validated our chemical sensing technology
Project Poster
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Project Poster Summary:
This technical poster presents CortiTrack, the first continuous cortisol monitoring system developed by a team from Johns Hopkins University. The poster outlines their innovative approach combining microneedle technology with electrochemical sensing to measure stress hormones in real-time.
Key components showcased include:
1. Electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer (E-MIP) sensors, validated through FTIR and voltammetry testing
2. 3D-printed biocompatible microneedle arrays for painless interstitial fluid sampling
3. Compact electronic system featuring an Emstat Pico potentiostat and Bluetooth connectivity
4. Successful fluid flow testing using ANSYS Fluent simulations
The poster highlights how this technology addresses the significant gap in continuous stress monitoring, potentially transforming management of stress-related conditions that currently cost US employers $300B annually.
Project Video
Venture Pitch Video for CortiTrack