Ultrasound Sticker For Early Disease Detection And Continuous Organ Monitoring

These adhesive ultrasound stickers can detect changes in the stiffness of internal organs, which can reveal early signs of acute liver failure.

In an effort to improve health, MIT engineers have introduced an ultrasound sticker the size of a postage stamp that can monitor the tightness of internal organs. This innovative technology aims to detect signs of diseases such as liver and kidney failure and tumor growth, thus bringing new horizons to medical diagnosis. This research involves placing sensors in the skin that send and receive sound waves to reflect back on the body, providing a "signal" of the body's strength. "These wearable devices allow continuous monitoring of organ strength, which is important for early disease diagnosis," explains lead author Juan Zhao of the study.

The patches were shown to be effective within 48 hours, showing small changes indicative of disease progression. Preliminary experiments with mice have shown an ability to detect early signs of acute liver failure, so it could be applied to humans. The researchers aim to use these sensors for post-transplant monitoring in the ICU and highlight their value in early intervention.

Unlike traditional methods that require hand-held ultrasound probes, these stickers offer a permanent and non-invasive alternative. By capturing shear waves, these sensors can measure organ strength, providing important information without permanent intervention. By miniaturizing the technology to fit on a tiny chip, the team retained the sensitivity inherent in ultrasound probes. This development could revolutionize the way a patient's body health is monitored, particularly by providing continuous data on organ strength after transplantation.

The team is working to monitor stickers in the clinical setting, especially in post-transplant ICU patients. There is also potential for a more portable version for patients to use at home, allowing for long-term monitoring of conditions such as the development of solid tumors.

This development not only improves patient care by enabling early detection and intervention, but also aims to ease the workload of healthcare professionals by providing a reliable, low-maintenance monitoring solution. As Zhao envisions, this technology could one day change the landscape of personal health monitoring, medical diagnostics and patient care. This effort, supported by the National Institutes of Health, facilitates more accessible organ health monitoring.