Thanks to innovations by a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), getting an ultrasound may soon be as easy as putting on a Band-Aid®.
Researchers have developed a new bioadhesive ultrasound device, or “ultrasound sticker,” that can provide 48-hour ultrasound images of organs, muscles and tissues. Finally, the sticker can be used at home, which is useful for anyone, but it is especially useful for the care of pregnant women and athletes.
Conventional ultrasound technology is only available in hospitals and requires large and bulky equipment that provides images from a single session. Now the same technology is available as a small, wearable patch.
“It will be a game changer in medical imaging, especially in the field of ultrasound imaging and wearable devices,” said Xuanhe Zhao, Ph.D., part of the MIT team and senior author of the paper. Science Paper.
An inward view
In a traditional ultrasound, a gel is first applied to the skin to help transmit the ultrasound waves. These waves are made by a stick-like probe that is pressed into the desired area. The waves bounce off the body’s internal organs and are reflected back and picked up by the probe, creating an image.
Instead of gels and sticks, Zhao and his team invented a thin patch probe that combines with a Jell-O-like “coupplant” that facilitates the transmission of ultrasound waves. The sticker is 2 centimeters square, and 2-3 millimeters thick – the size and thickness of a nickel. The adhesive allows for drawing images close to the surface and up to a depth of 20 centimeters.
It’s stuck on you
The sticker was tested on 15 subjects on different parts of the body – including arms, neck and chest – highlighting some of its benefits. Participants were monitored for 48 hours and engaged in daily activities such as walking, running and cycling.
For example, when applied to the arm, the ultrasound sticker can continuously image the biceps over a 48-hour period. It was sensitive enough for Zhao to monitor micro damage to these muscles during and after a 1 hour weight lifting session. “In the future, combined with some image processing algorithm, the ultrasound sticker will warn you when the exercise is enough,” Zhao said, which could prevent injuries or aid rehabilitation.
When placed around the neck, the sticker can monitor blood pressure (BP). Cuff-measured BP is wearable, reliable, and difficult to operate long-term, Zhao says. This device can continuously monitor the diameter of the carotid artery and alert patients and physicians of increased blood pressure.
When placed on the chest, the sticker visualized the heart, providing new management options for those with heart problems. According to Zhao, ultrasound can be applied directly to the chest and send images or video to medical professionals.
Another feature – not tested in the study, says Zha, but with potential – is the ability to control embryos. In general, women have two to three ultrasounds during pregnancy. The ultrasound sticker allows the mother and her doctor to see her fetus whenever needed to ensure good health.
Next steps
Currently the sticker is wired to the data box. Zhao and his team are working to create a second-generation sticker that can be wireless and connect to a user’s smartphone. It estimates 2-5 years for the integrated system to become wireless and obtain Food and Drug Administration approval for medical use in the US.
These are the first steps in what he envisions as a big step forward in wearable technology, with the ultimate goal of “better health for the whole world.”
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