Patent ID: 8611992

Claim:
An apparatus for sensing a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of a mammalian subject, the apparatus comprising: a liquid collection element comprising a hydrophilic, porous medium or fibrous medium arranged for placement in fluid communication with oral mucosa of a mammalian subject; a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to detect saturation of portions of the liquid collection element; a microprocessor arranged to receive signals indicative of closure of a plurality of electrical circuits including the plurality of electrical contacts, and to identify a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject based at least in part on signals received from the plurality of electrical circuits; and a signaling element in communication with the microprocessor and arranged to generate an output signal indicative of state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject.