Engineers at UC San Diego have developed the first fully integrated wearable ultrasound system for deep-tissue monitoring, marking a significant advance in the field of wearable healthcare technology. This system allows for real-time tracking of vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output, from tissues as deep as 164 mm, even while the subject is in motion. The device, known as the autonomous wearable ultrasonic system-on-patch (USoP), includes flexible control circuits that wirelessly transmit data, eliminating the mobility constraints associated with previous tethered designs.
The innovation is part of the broader Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), creating a network of medical devices that can continuously relay health metrics for analysis and diagnosis. The system also employs machine learning to adjust to the subject’s movement, ensuring accurate data capture without the need for manual sensor adjustments. Clinicians provided valuable insights throughout the development process, revealing the system’s potential for clinical applications beyond just blood pressure monitoring. The next steps include validating the device across larger populations in clinical trials to further establish its capabilities. The development was supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Institutes of Health.
