Smart Underwear Tracks Gut Gas for Microbiome Insights

New wearable device monitors flatulence frequency to establish baseline for normal gut function

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:07pm

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An abstract, geometric painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, visually representing the complex forces and patterns of the human gut microbiome.A new wearable device that tracks gut gas production aims to establish a reliable baseline for normal microbiome activity, potentially transforming how clinicians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal disorders.College Park Today

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a 'smart underwear' device that can track the frequency and hydrogen concentration of flatulence in real-time. The goal is to establish a more accurate baseline for normal gut microbiome activity, which could help clinicians better identify abnormal patterns and tailor treatments more effectively.

Why it matters

Previous methods for studying flatulence, such as rectal tubes, have been limited and uncomfortable. This new wearable device provides a more scalable and continuous way to monitor gut function, which is crucial for understanding the complex relationship between diet, the microbiome, and overall health.

The details

The device, about the size of three stacked nickels, can be snapped onto the exterior of any underwear near the perineal region. It uses electrochemical sensors to detect flatus frequency and hydrogen concentration, with the data transmitted to an accompanying app. In a user study, participants reported high comfort and compliance with wearing the device for at least 3 days. The device was also able to accurately detect increased hydrogen production after participants consumed inulin, demonstrating its ability to track changes in microbial metabolism.

  • The device was introduced in a study published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X in 2026.
  • Researchers at the University of Maryland launched the 'Human Flatus Atlas' project to track flatulence patterns and correlate them with diet and microbiome composition.

The players

Santiago Botasini

A UMD assistant research scientist with the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and the lead author of the study on the smart underwear device.

Brantley Hall

A researcher in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland who spoke about the limitations of previous flatulence tracking methods and the potential of the new device.

Ventoscity LLC

A startup co-founded by Botasini and Hall to commercialize the smart underwear technology, which has licensed the patents from the University of Maryland.

Supriya Rao

A managing partner of Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in Boston who commented on the potential of the device to provide more accurate and continuous data on gut function.

University of Maryland

The institution where the smart underwear device was developed and where Botasini and Hall are researchers.

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What they’re saying

“Flatus is the most noticeable thing your microbiome does. And it's insane to me that we're not measuring it. For us to identify what's abnormal, we first have to find out what's normal.”

— Brantley Hall, Researcher, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland

“Until now we have relied on breath tests, invasive rectal tube studies, and symptom reporting which are really, limited snapshots. This device can capture real time data over days and shows that people pass gas more frequently than we previously thought. It challenges some of our baseline assumptions about that normal physiology.”

— Supriya Rao, Managing Partner, Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants

What’s next

Researchers plan to expand the 'Human Flatus Atlas' project to collect data from a more diverse population and correlate flatulence patterns with diet and microbiome composition. They also hope to study the device's performance in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders.

The takeaway

This new smart underwear device provides a more accurate and continuous way to monitor gut function, which could lead to better understanding of normal versus abnormal patterns of flatulence and help clinicians tailor treatments more effectively for gastrointestinal issues.