Researchers have developed a unique wearable device that can continuously scan the lungs and heart of hospital patients while they are lying in bed. According to the inventors, this is a revolutionary alternative to CT scans. The wearable is attached to the patient's chest like a belt, similar to the heart rate monitors often worn by athletes. It works like a CT scanner, using ultrasound. Instead of taking an isolated snapshot, it can produce a series of dynamic, high-resolution images of the heart, lungs and internal organs, giving doctors a better understanding of a patient's condition.
The wearable can be worn in bed and also reduces the need for repeated hospital visits for scans. The device was developed at the University of Bath in collaboration with Polish technology company Netrix and is described in this publication from the University of Bath. The soft sensor array is placed directly on the patient's chest and uses advanced ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) to generate real-time images of the heart and lungs, continuously monitoring changes in organ function and structure for hours or even days.
A game changer for patient monitoring?
Patients with conditions such as heart failure, pneumonia or respiratory distress often have to undergo multiple scans that are intermittent, disruptive and radiation-intensive. The newly developed wearable enables non-invasive bedside monitoring, minimising the need for transport, improving comfort and allowing deterioration or recovery to be detected earlier.
"This could mean a fundamental change in the way we monitor patients in intensive care or after surgery. The image quality of the device is comparable to that of an X-ray or CT scan, but instead of a single snapshot, we can monitor how the lungs and heart behave over time, which provides much more information when treating dynamic conditions," said Professor Manuch Soleimani. He is the lead author of the research article and is affiliated with the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at Bath.
Human trials have shown that the technology is reliable and can also save resources. Real-time imaging is made possible by using advanced image reconstruction and deep learning algorithms. ‘The fact that the device can be worn comfortably in bed and provides a complete image of the organs in the chest means that it can also help determine treatments, including how much ventilation support patients need,’ says Soleimani.
More comfort for the patient
The device is designed with patient comfort in mind. Its soft, flexible materials make it suitable for long-term use, and wireless data transfer allows it to be integrated with hospital monitoring systems. Future versions may even offer AI-assisted analysis for clinicians, identifying warning signs before they are visible to the human eye.
Outside hospitals, this technology opens the door to remote monitoring in home care settings, particularly for elderly patients or those with chronic heart and lung conditions. It can also reduce pressure on healthcare services through early intervention, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.
Clinical trial on men and later also women
The research team is currently working with partner hospitals on plans for clinical trials, with the aim of refining the technology for regulatory approval. The first tests were conducted on healthy male volunteers, as men's chests are more uniform. The research team plans to expand their work to female participants in the future, to overcome potential challenges related to imaging through breast tissue, and to begin testing on patients with heart and lung conditions, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary oedema and more.
Other possible developments could increase image resolution by adding more echo channels, while further development of the design could also be used for bedside or ambulance brain scan monitoring for stroke monitoring, which can be life-saving and crucial for treatment and rehabilitation.
Medical wearables
Medical wearables offer significant advantages for digital telemonitoringin healthcare. These devices, such as smart patches and medical smartwatches, continuously collect vital data such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, and send this data to healthcare providers in real time. This enables doctors to obtain a longitudinal picture of the patient, which is crucial for monitoring conditions such as atrial fibrillation and adjusting treatments.
In addition, wearables can take over routine tasks from healthcare providers, giving them more time for patient consultations. For widespread implementation, it is essential that the collected data is accurate, medically validated and transparently shared within a jointly supported framework of doctors, patients and health insurers.
