Skin patch for measuring blood pressure

According toSDThis device was successfully tested by scientists at the University of California San Diego, USA. It is specifically designed to monitor the blood pressure of patients with heart or lung diseases, those in critical condition, or those who have recently undergone surgery.

Professor Sheng Xu, a nanotechnology expert and head of the research team, explained that the thin patch, made of flexible silicone, contains electronic components connected by coiled wires. This structure makes the patch flexible and comfortable against the skin, while also protecting the wires from breaking during stretching.

Unlike blood pressure monitors that inflate and wrap around the upper arm, this device measures the patient's arterial blood pressure. Central blood pressure is the pressure measured in the core of the blood vessels, where blood is pumped directly from the heart to the rest of the body. The results more accurately reflect the patient's condition than peripheral blood pressure and help predict the risk of heart disease more effectively, according to Sheng Xu.

"The product uses continuous ultrasound waves to measure pulses located about 4 cm deep under the skin. The information obtained can describe what is happening inside the patient's heart based on specific waveforms. Through this, doctors can assess the patient's cardiovascular health more thoroughly," Mr. Su said.

The soft, highly elastic patch was tested on the neck, forearm, wrist, and leg of patients. The test was conducted in both static and dynamic states. The measurements from the patch closely matched those obtained using traditional ultrasound.

Dr. Brady Huang, a member of the research team, stated that for complex cardiopulmonary surgeries, continuous and accurate monitoring of arterial blood pressure is crucial. Therefore, this device is a new technology with high potential to effectively replace traditional methods.

"The major breakthrough of this research is that ultrasound technology can now be miniaturized into a patch. Doctors can continuously obtain blood pressure readings from the aorta located deep beneath the skin without resorting to traditional invasive methods," Huang said.

Researchers believe this new device still has a long testing period before it can be used in medical centers. Many issues remain to be improved, such as power integration, data processing units, and necessary wireless connectivity.

Dr. Su shared: "The patch also needs to transmit information via wires from external devices. Looking ahead, we are hoping to collaborate with experts in data transmission and wireless technology for the next phase of research."