emirates7 - Researchers have developed a groundbreaking wearable device that can continuously monitor the heart and lungs of patients as they rest in bed, offering a transformative alternative to traditional CT scans.
The belt-like device, which wraps around the chest, uses ultrasound technology to function similarly to a CT scanner—but instead of capturing a single image, it delivers a continuous stream of high-resolution, real-time images of internal organs like the heart and lungs. This allows clinicians to track changes in organ function and structure over extended periods, providing a more detailed and dynamic view of a patient’s condition.
Created by scientists at the University of Bath in collaboration with Polish tech firm Netrix, the innovation is described in a recent paper published in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. The device features a soft, skin-friendly sensor array that employs advanced ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) to scan organs non-invasively over hours or even days.
Patients suffering from heart failure, pneumonia, or respiratory distress often require frequent, radiation-based imaging that can be uncomfortable and disruptive. This new device enables continuous bedside monitoring, reducing the need for repeated transport and scans while increasing patient comfort and enabling faster detection of changes in health status.
Designed with long-term use in mind, the device is made from soft, flexible materials and includes wireless data transmission to connect with hospital systems. Future versions may also include AI-powered diagnostics to help identify subtle warning signs before they become apparent to clinicians.
The technology holds promise beyond hospital use as well. It could support remote monitoring for elderly individuals or patients with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, helping to reduce hospital admissions by enabling earlier intervention and easing the overall burden on healthcare systems.
The belt-like device, which wraps around the chest, uses ultrasound technology to function similarly to a CT scanner—but instead of capturing a single image, it delivers a continuous stream of high-resolution, real-time images of internal organs like the heart and lungs. This allows clinicians to track changes in organ function and structure over extended periods, providing a more detailed and dynamic view of a patient’s condition.
Created by scientists at the University of Bath in collaboration with Polish tech firm Netrix, the innovation is described in a recent paper published in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. The device features a soft, skin-friendly sensor array that employs advanced ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) to scan organs non-invasively over hours or even days.
Patients suffering from heart failure, pneumonia, or respiratory distress often require frequent, radiation-based imaging that can be uncomfortable and disruptive. This new device enables continuous bedside monitoring, reducing the need for repeated transport and scans while increasing patient comfort and enabling faster detection of changes in health status.
Designed with long-term use in mind, the device is made from soft, flexible materials and includes wireless data transmission to connect with hospital systems. Future versions may also include AI-powered diagnostics to help identify subtle warning signs before they become apparent to clinicians.
The technology holds promise beyond hospital use as well. It could support remote monitoring for elderly individuals or patients with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, helping to reduce hospital admissions by enabling earlier intervention and easing the overall burden on healthcare systems.