Ultrasound patch worn on the body can track high-risk pregnancies

New Patch for Monitoring High-Risk Pregnancies

A novel pregnancy patch could significantly enhance 24-hour monitoring for mothers at high risk.

Traditionally, ultrasound has been the go-to for monitoring fetal health, but engineers at the University of California, San Diego have created a wearable patch that aims to deliver ongoing and detailed information about both mother and baby’s well-being.

This flexible, adhesive UPatch is placed on a woman’s abdomen and provides real-time updates on blood flow to the fetus and umbilical cord. It’s about the size of a hand and connects to a computer that processes ultrasound data.

Recently published research highlights the UPatch’s potential to save lives. For example, one case noted that the patch detected severe placental insufficiency, leading to an early Caesarean delivery that may have preserved the baby’s life.

“Wearable ultrasound technology has the potential to enable continuous prenatal monitoring and improve pregnancy outcomes in ways not previously possible,” remarked Gunho (Tom) Park, a doctoral student in Chemistry and Nanoengineering at UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering.

In their study, Park and his team gathered monitoring data from 62 pregnancies. Some were healthy, while others faced risks such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, and fetal growth issues.

When the researchers compared their findings with those obtained from standard ultrasound machines, the results were statistically equivalent. Interestingly, while traditional ultrasound requires a trained technician and captures only snapshots of fetal health, UPatch continuously monitors fetal well-being without needing a manual operator.

Park explained, “Comprehensive monitoring of mother and baby for the period necessary to detect complications like pre-eclampsia requires a system that works continuously and almost independently.” He added that the depth of sensing, functional capabilities, and the autonomy of this ultrasound technology are crucial.

Creating the patch involved overcoming substantial hurdles, like capturing and understanding data from deep within the uterus, especially in an environment that’s constantly changing.

They brainstormed, “What if we focused an ultrasound machine on the placenta where the umbilical cord attaches?” Despite the constant motion, some stability exists in the area of the umbilical cord, which was an interesting insight.

A vital part of this innovation is an image segmentation algorithm that follows the end of the umbilical cord linked to the placenta, ensuring consistent measurements even as the positions of the mother and fetus shift.

The researchers aspire to use this technology to aid doctors in managing high-risk pregnancies and identifying complications early on. Initially, the patch is expected to be utilized in hospitals, but plans are underway for a wireless version that would enable doctors to monitor patients from home.