Topline
Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) introduced a stamp-sized sticker that produces high-quality ultrasound images of inner organs and could be used to monitor muscle and organ activity on electronic devices.
A team of engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a postage stamp-sized … [+]
Key Facts
The sticker, presented in the journal Science on Thursday, produced high-resolution images that allowed the team to observe changes in blood vessels, organs and muscles on volunteers who performed different physical activities.
One side of the device contains solid hydrogel–the substance that (in its liquid form) is used for traditional ultrasound–while the other side is made up of transducers that send out sound waves and translate echoed signals into images.
MIT’s team said the sticker’s high-quality visual output could support the observation of tumor progression and the diagnosis of diseases.
Pregnant women could also observe their fetuses’ development in the womb, and athletes could monitor their heart and muscle activity, adjusting their workouts to prevent soreness or injuries.
While the stickers must be connected to transducers–devices that can convert sound waves into images–it’s progress from handheld ultrasounds or bulky machines traditionally used in hospitals.
MIT’s engineers are working on a wireless version of the sticker, which would communicate with cell phones through AI algorithms that analyze images, and make the product as “wearable and accessible as buying Band-Aids at the pharmacy.”
Big Number
48. That’s how many hours of continuous imaging the stickers can produce.
What We Don’t Know
When the final version of the sticker will roll out, and at what cost it will be available to consumers.
Surprisng Fact
The research was partially funded by the U.S. Army Research Office through MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, where students and faculty work on innovations in service of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisarennau/2022/07/29/ultrasound-stickers-could-let-users-see-inside-their-bodies-from-their-phones/