Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a wireless, wearable system designed for deep tissue monitoring that aims to advance cardiovascular research and patient care. The work, published in Nature Biotechnology, showcases a patch that integrates ultrasound sensing with flexible, skin-friendly materials to enable continuous observation of cardiovascular signals in real time.
In preliminary testing, the soft, wire-free patch demonstrated the ability to monitor physiological signals from tissue depths reaching 164 millimeters. This capability supports ongoing measurement of central blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and other vital indicators for up to twelve hours each day, without requiring users to stay tethered to equipment.
A key advantage of this design lies in its freedom of movement. The absence of wires reduces limitations on mobility, and the measurements remained stable even as the wearer moved. Such robustness to motion is particularly valuable for real-world conditions where daily activities could otherwise disrupt data collection.
The device also proves useful for assessing how the cardiovascular system responds to exercise. By providing real-time data during physical activity, individuals can gauge training intensity more accurately and adjust workouts to improve effectiveness and safety. This real-time feedback has potential implications for optimizing athletic performance as well as monitoring health in broader populations.
From a clinical perspective, irregularities in resting or exercise-induced blood pressure and cardiac output can signal cardiovascular problems. The researchers suggest that their wearable system could become a practical tool for monitoring patients with heart conditions, enabling closer observation of how such conditions evolve over time and how treatments influence cardiovascular function.
So far, the team has tested the device with a small, diverse group of participants. They indicate plans to expand testing to larger populations, including clinical trial settings, to further validate performance and reliability across a broader range of users and conditions.