Wearable Patch Images Heart

A wearable ultrasound patch, the size of a postage stamp, can take images of the heart and monitor its performance even during strenuous exercise.

The device, described in the journal Nature, offers a portable alternative to bulky imaging machines and allows continuous, real-time assessment of heart function.

Currently, cardiac function can only be assessed through either imaging or continuous measurement, not both together.

It has also previously been impossible for ultrasound to assess cardiac anatomy and function during exercise, even though this can provide valuable insights into heart abnormalities.

“Conventional ultrasound techniques have limitations in their ability to conduct imaging for [a] prolonged time, as they necessitate the patient to maintain stationary,” explained senior investigator Sheng...