MIT engineers have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound sticker, about the size of a postage stamp, capable of monitoring the stiffness of internal organs to detect early signs of diseases such as liver failure, kidney issues, and tumor progression. Published in Science Advances, the study demonstrates the sticker’s ability to send sound waves through the skin and measure reflected waves to assess organ rigidity. This innovative wearable device continuously tracks changes over 48 hours, offering a significant advancement in early diagnosis and monitoring of organ health. Preliminary experiments have shown its effectiveness in detecting early acute liver failure in rats.
Designed to enhance care for patients recovering from organ transplants, the sticker could be applied in intensive care units (ICUs) to monitor organ stiffness and identify potential acute failures. Unlike traditional handheld ultrasound probes, which require periodic use and can miss critical moments, this sticker provides continuous monitoring, reducing the risk of late diagnosis.
The sticker uses advanced fabrication techniques, incorporating 128 miniature piezoelectric transducers onto a 25-millimeter chip lined with a hydrogel adhesive. This allows efficient transmission of sound waves into and out of the body. The device demonstrated high sensitivity comparable to commercial ultrasound elastography probes, which are typically used in ICUs to detect organ failure or rejection.
Future adaptations aim to create portable, self-contained versions for at-home use, enabling long-term monitoring of conditions like tumor progression. Researchers believe the sticker could revolutionize healthcare by providing non-invasive, continuous monitoring of vital organ health. Lead author Hsiao-Chuan Liu highlights its potential to detect issues immediately, giving doctors the chance to intervene promptly. Senior author Xuanhe Zhao envisions a future where multiple stickers could monitor key health metrics and track major organ health continuously, making it a life-saving technological innovation.
