Edemeter: Wearable and continuous fluid retention monitoring

Fluid retention, known medically as edema, is caused by the retention of fluid in the soft tissue of the lower extremities. This is most commonly found in the ankles and feet due to the effects of gravity. In this paper, we present a wearable device worn around the ankle that monitors edema in the legs and alerts the user of changes. We discuss the Edemeter system's physical and functional design. We also present results from several experiments characterizing the use of flex sensors for measuring ankle swelling, as well as system component power consumption and its impact on battery life.