Ultrasound Technology Gets Even Smaller
Mark Kingsley
08/10/2021
It seems that ultrasound technology is getting smaller and smaller. From ultrasound probes what plug into a smartphone to an even more impressive feat: an ultrasound patch. Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a “ultrasound patch” that can measure and monitor blood flow. The patch, which at first seems like a square band-aid with a strange pattern, contains an array that measures the blood flow of vessels underneath it.
The hope is that such a patch could be useful for clinicians in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and being able to detect the risk of stroke as a preventative measure. The benefit of using ultrasound is that the current technology for measuring blood flow is either invasive or cumbersome. The ultrasound patch, conversely, offers a convenient solution. Such a device could be used in clinical settings as well as at-home monitoring.
So how does it work? The patch essentially utilizes phased array technology that creates a manipulatable ultrasound beam. In this initial stage, the patch is wired, having to be tethered to a power source to operate. However, the team is optimistic about a wireless version of the patch moving forward.
The ultrasound patch is certainly a novel application of ultrasound technology. More than that, however, it has potential for providing an even easier way to track and prevent cardiovascular disease, which account for most preventable deaths in the United States. In addition to the humanitarian benefit, it is also a testament to the versatility and increasing mobility of ultrasound to solve problems in imaging and diagnosis.