Monitoring of the central blood pressure waveform via a conformal ultrasonic device

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• Continuous central blood pressure monitoring from deep vessels like the carotid artery is crucial for predicting cardiovascular mortality.
• Current non-invasive methods (e.g., photoplethysmography, tonometry) are limited to superficial peripheral vasculature.
• Conventional ultrasound probes face usability constraints due to bulkiness and surface coupling instability for deep-tissue observation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe an innovative conformal ultrasonic device for non-invasive, continuous blood pressure waveform monitoring.
• To enable accurate waveform capture from deeply embedded arterial and venous sites.
• To overcome the limitations of existing technologies for deep vascular access.

Main Methods:

• Design and operation of an ultrathin (240 μm) and stretchable (up to 60% strain) wearable ultrasonic device.
• Utilizing ultrasound technology for non-invasive deep-tissue observation.
• Ensuring conformal contact with the skin for stable signal acquisition.

Main Results:

• The device successfully captures blood pressure waveforms from deeply embedded arterial and venous sites.
• Demonstrated non-invasive, continuous, and accurate monitoring of cardiovascular events.
• The wearable nature and flexibility overcome previous usability constraints.

Conclusions:

• The developed conformal ultrasound device enables effective non-invasive monitoring of central blood pressure waveforms.
• This technology facilitates continuous cardiovascular event monitoring from multiple body locations.
• The device holds significant potential for diverse clinical environments and improved patient outcomes.