Scientists have developed a ‘sticker’ the size of a postage stamp that can make ultrasound images of, among other things, the heart and lungs.
How cool would it be if you could get an ultrasound sticker at the local pharmacy. You stick this on your chest and you can see exactly whether your muscles are not overworked during that heavy workout. Or you can keep an extra eye on your heart if the doctor tells you to. It could be that simple in the future thanks to a new one invention from a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Also read:
Fewer restrictions
ultrasound has long been one of the most important methods in a hospital for imaging a patient’s organs. So-called probes are placed on the skin that emit sound waves. These waves bounce off the structures inside the body and are recaptured by the probes. A device then converts the reflected waves into high-resolution images.
This way of working does require a doctor to hold the probes, and specialized equipment to make the images. So now MIT researchers come up with a kind of sticker that does the same thing but with fewer restrictions.
The ultrasound sticker – 2 square centimeters in size and 3 millimeters thick – consists of several layers. The bottom one, which comes on the skin, contains a elastomer, a rubbery polymer that is flexible and adheres well. On top of this is a layer of hydrogel that can transfer sound waves well. Then a layer of elastomer follows. Both elastomer layers should prevent the hydrogel – which contains a lot of water – from drying out. Finally, the top of the sticker contains a grid of transducers that produce the sound waves.
Echosticker
The invention has been tested by a group of volunteers. These men and women received an ultrasound sticker on their neck, chest, abdomen and arms. Meanwhile, they performed all kinds of activities, from simply standing and sitting to cycling and lifting weights.
The researchers said they obtained “beautiful high-resolution images of hearts pumping, arm muscles moving and stomachs expanding after a meal.” It was possible to capture images for up to 48 hours, much longer than would be possible with a traditional hospital ultrasound.
The only downside is that the sticker is currently still attached with wires to an instrument that translates the reflected sound waves into images. But Zhao’s team wants to change this in the future. It should then even be possible to buy the ultrasound sticker at the pharmacy and then use it as a wearable wirelessly to your phone. An app could use an algorithm to analyze the images and provide you (or the doctor) with advice.
Sources: Science, WITH via EurekAlert!
Image: Felice Frankel
–
