A team of engineers and health researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has developed a tiny wearable device that could change how people monitor their heart and lung health.
The lightweight patch, which weighs just over three grams, is designed to stick to the chest like a bandage and continuously track important signals from the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and breathing system.
The researchers believe the technology could eventually help millions of people monitor their health from home, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits and allowing doctors to spot problems earlier.
The work was led by scientists at UNSW and published in the journal Nature Communications.
Heart disease and chronic respiratory illnesses remain among the leading causes of death worldwide. Many patients with these conditions only receive occasional checkups, often lasting just a few minutes. Doctors usually assess patients during short appointments and may not see what happens during the rest of the day.
This can be especially challenging for people who live in regional or remote areas. Traveling to clinics can be difficult, and some people delay seeking medical care until symptoms become severe.
According to the research team, by the time symptoms become obvious, some diseases may already have progressed significantly. Earlier detection could allow treatment to begin sooner and potentially improve outcomes.
To address this problem, the researchers created a wearable sensor called AusculPatch. The device is extremely small, measuring roughly 20 by 47 millimeters and only 3 millimeters thick. It attaches to the skin using ordinary medical tape and can be placed over the chest or certain arteries.
At the center of the patch is an ultra-thin silicon sensor that detects tiny vibrations moving through the body. These vibrations are produced by heartbeats, blood flow, breathing movements, and pulse waves.
Unlike a traditional stethoscope, which only works during a doctor’s examination, the patch is designed to continuously monitor these signals over long periods. This allows researchers to gather far more information about a person’s health during daily life.
The technology works by detecting very small mechanical vibrations. Every heartbeat creates pressure waves that travel through body tissues and fluids. Breathing also creates subtle movements. The patch captures these signals and converts them into information that can be analyzed.
One important advantage is that the device can detect extremely low-frequency vibrations that are difficult for conventional microphones to capture. It was also designed to reduce interference from surrounding sounds. Even in noisy environments, researchers found that the patch could continue recording clear heart and breathing signals.
In early testing, participants wore the patch while walking, climbing stairs, eating meals, working, and performing other everyday activities. The device continued collecting useful information throughout these activities.
The researchers compared the patch’s measurements with established medical tools such as electrocardiograms, ultrasound scans, blood pressure monitors, and digital stethoscopes. The results showed strong agreement between the wearable device and these clinical instruments.
The team believes the technology may eventually offer advantages over many consumer fitness trackers and smartwatches. While those devices can monitor heart rate and blood oxygen levels, AusculPatch provides more direct information about the physical function of the heart and lungs.
The device may also be able to monitor blood pressure, pulse waves, heart valve function, and other important signals that are difficult to track continuously outside a hospital.
One of the most exciting possibilities involves artificial intelligence. Because the patch can collect large amounts of data over long periods, machine-learning systems could potentially learn to recognize patterns linked to disease.
Researchers hope future versions could automatically detect concerning changes and alert both patients and healthcare providers before symptoms become severe. This could be particularly valuable for people living with chronic heart disease or respiratory conditions.
The study also explored other potential applications. In one proof-of-concept experiment, the patch detected vibrations from the vocal cords. Researchers then used machine learning to recognize spoken words and even control a robotic arm.
Although these experiments are still at an early stage, they suggest the technology could eventually help people with speech difficulties or physical disabilities.
The researchers are now planning larger clinical studies. Around 200 patients with heart valve disease and implanted heart assist devices are expected to participate in upcoming trials. Later studies may involve around 1,000 patients.
The team estimates that medical approval could take four to five years. However, consumer wellness versions of the technology may become available sooner.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and calcium supplements could harm your heart health.
For more health information, please see recent studies that blackcurrants can reduce blood sugar after meal and results showing how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
Source: University of New South Wales.
