Wearable Ultrasound Patch Enables Continuous Prenatal Monitoring

Researchers from Stanford University, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Oxford have unveiled a wearable ultrasound patch, called UPatch, that can image a fetus for hours, providing continuous heart-rate and blood-flow data beyond the brief snapshots of conventional scans.

The Guardian

The patch consists of a soft ultrasound transducer adhered to the abdomen and linked to external electronics that process and transmit signals. Initial placement requires a standard handheld scan. In a multi-centre study at Jacobs Medical Center (UC San Diego Health) and John Radcliffe Hospital, 62 pregnant participants underwent simultaneous measurements with UPatch and conventional ultrasound, while 52 women wore the device continuously for extended periods. Senior authors include Prof Sheng Xu (Stanford), Dr Antoniya Georgieva (Oxford), and lead author Tom Park (UC San Diego).

Oxford Mail

Across the 62 paired measurements, UPatch’s blood-flow and heart-rate readings matched those of standard handheld ultrasound, confirming technical accuracy. Continuous recordings in the 52-woman cohort revealed dynamic fluctuations that intermittent scans miss. In one pre-eclamptic participant, the patch identified severe intra-uterine growth restriction, prompting an early caesarean delivery that averted stillbirth. Researchers argue that such real-time data could enable earlier intervention and broaden prenatal care in low-resource settings.

Oxford Mail

The authors present the study as a proof-of-concept validating continuous ultrasound imaging in a clinical setting. Institutional releases note that the patch can complement, rather than replace, standard obstetric ultrasound and may expand access where skilled technicians are scarce. The team also announced plans to embed the sensor in a compact, wireless system for home use.

Oxford Mail

UPatch remains tethered to external electronics and requires initial placement with conventional ultrasound, limiting portability. The study’s modest size and absence of long-term safety outcomes leave efficacy unanswered.

The Guardian

• “Current diagnosis devices are intermittent that can only capture a snapshot of what’s going on with the baby. The patients can only do such measurements in the hospital. They miss a lot of information and data between the hospital visits.” — Prof Sheng Xu, Stanford University

Mirror - UK

• “The lead author of the work, PhD student Tom Park, said: "We observed close agreement between the wearable ultrasound patch and the conventional ultrasound device across these measurements.” — Tom Park, PhD student, UC San Diego

Mirror - UK

• “In a pre-eclamptic case, the UPatch revealed the severity of intrauterine growth restriction, leading to caesarean delivery to prevent stillbirth,” — Tom Park, PhD student, UC San Diego

The Guardian

• “The potential to prevent stillbirth directly is huge,” — Dr Antoniya Georgieva, University of Oxford

The Guardian

The researchers are engineering a wireless UPatch and plan larger trials to evaluate scalability, cost-effectiveness, and clinical outcomes across varied healthcare environments.

The Guardian