May 8, 2024

This ultrasound patch can measure if your bladder’s full

When applied to the bladder area, it offers a clear view of the bladder, similar to examining a cars and trucks fuel gauge. The patch, crafted from versatile silicone rubber with integrated ultrasound transducers, adheres conveniently to the skin. Previously, Dagdeviren and colleagues developed an ultrasound screen that can be attached to a bra to screen for breast cancer. The scientists used a routine ultrasound probe to see the images tape-recorded by the patch.

Partner Professor Canan Dagdeviren led the development of this groundbreaking patch. Her sibling had a lot of problem handling his bladder following a kidney cancer surgery– a real-world problem that set the researchers on a course to transform portable ultrasound monitoring.

Turning hardship into development, the group at MIT started this task motivated by an individual experience.

The patch, crafted from flexible silicone rubber with integrated ultrasound transducers, adheres easily to the skin. Formerly, Dagdeviren and coworkers established an ultrasound display that can be attached to a bra to screen for breast cancer.

A similar wearable ultrasound device that the very same MIT scientists previously developed to screen for breast cancer. Credit: MIT.

“Millions of individuals are suffering from bladder dysfunction and related illness, and not remarkably, bladder volume tracking is a reliable method to examine your kidney health and wellness,” stated Dagdeviren in a press release.

Credit: MIT.

In cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital, the spot was evaluated on 20 patients with varied body mass indexes, varying from thin to obese. The devices imaging capabilities were on par with traditional ultrasound devices, effectively monitoring bladder volume changes without requiring gel or pressure application.

“For whatever organ that we need to imagine, we go back to the first action, select the ideal products, develop the best gadget style and after that produce whatever accordingly,” before evaluating the device and carrying out medical trials, Dagdeviren states.

This gadget offers non-invasive internal organ imaging, marking a departure from standard ultrasound setups that need operators and conductive gels. When used to the bladder area, it offers a clear view of the bladder, akin to inspecting a cars fuel gauge. It can also be used to other crucial organs, such as the heart, to supply medical tracking.

The findings appeared in Nature Electronics.

For clients with kidney damage or other medical conditions, bladder management can present a significant challenge. With these clients in mind, MIT researchers set out to change wearable medical imaging with an ingenious ultrasound patch.

With these patients in mind, MIT researchers set out to transform wearable medical imaging with an ingenious ultrasound patch.

The researchers used a routine ultrasound probe to see the images tape-recorded by the patch. But this was done more for convenience and as an evidence of concept. The scientists declare they are working on a more portable version the size of a mobile phone that can be used to see the images.

The possible applications of this technology extend far beyond bladder tracking. By changing the ultrasound signals place and frequency, the patch might be adjusted to keep an eye on other deep-seated organs, potentially assisting in the early detection of conditions like ovarian, liver, and pancreatic cancer.