The University of California San Diego achieved a milestone with a fully integrated wearable ultrasound system for deep-tissue monitoring. Engineers, researchers, and scientists collaborated to create the ultrasonic system-on-patch (USoP), allowing continuous cardiovascular monitoring. The USoP tracks vital signs up to 164 mm deep for 12 hours, offering convenient and non-invasive monitoring.
“This project gives a complete solution to wearable ultrasound technology—not only the wearable sensor, but also the control electronics are made in wearable form factors,” said Muyang Lin, the first author of the study. “We made a truly wearable device that can sense deep tissue vital signs wirelessly.”
Building upon their prior advancements in soft ultrasonic sensor design, researchers developed a fully integrated autonomous wearable ultrasonic system-on-patch (USoP). Unlike previous soft ultrasonic sensors, this system offers mobility by eliminating tethering cables for data and power transmission.
The USoP uses a flexible control circuit for wireless communication. Additionally, a machine learning component aids in data interpretation and facilitates the tracking of subjects in motion.
The team sees this technology as a life-saving breakthrough, enabling real-time evaluation of cardiovascular function during movement.
“Abnormal values of blood pressure and cardiac output, at rest or during exercise, are hallmarks of heart failure. For healthy populations, our device can measure cardiovascular responses to exercise in real-time and thus provide insights into the actual workout intensity exerted by each person, which can guide the formulation of personalized training plans,” added Lin.
