A novel wearable skin patch, about the size of a postage stamp, has been developed to continuously monitor blood pressure, potentially revolutionizing hypertension management. The device, created by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, offers a non-invasive method for tracking blood pressure fluctuations, providing a continuous stream of data that could reveal critical patterns missed by traditional cuff measurements.
The research, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, details how the soft, stretchy patch adheres to the skin and uses an array of tiny transducers to send and receive ultrasound waves. These waves track changes in the diameter of blood vessels, which are then converted into blood pressure values. Tests involving over 100 patients have demonstrated the patch's effectiveness.
Accuracy and Comparison to Existing Methods
The wearable patch has shown results comparable to both standard blood pressure cuffs and invasive arterial lines used in intensive care units. In a study involving four post-surgery ICU patients and 21 cardiac catheterization patients, the patch's measurements closely matched those obtained from the arterial line, highlighting its potential as a non-invasive alternative for continuous monitoring.
Sai Zhou, a study co-author from the University of California, San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering, emphasized that traditional blood pressure measurements often miss critical patterns due to their limited, one-time nature. The new patch addresses this limitation by providing a continuous stream of blood pressure waveform data, revealing detailed trends in blood pressure fluctuations.
Testing in Diverse Conditions
The research team tested the patch under a variety of conditions, including cycling, raising limbs, meditating, eating, and transitioning between sitting and standing. In all scenarios, the patch's readings closely matched those from traditional blood pressure cuffs, demonstrating its reliability in real-world settings.
Sheng Xu, a professor of chemical and nano engineering at UC San Diego and the patch's developer, noted the challenges in accurately diagnosing and managing blood pressure due to factors like white coat syndrome, masked hypertension, daily activities, and medication use. The comprehensive testing in diverse settings was crucial to validate the device's accuracy and reliability.
Future Directions
The team plans to refine the device and conduct large-scale clinical trials to further assess its performance and potential for widespread adoption. This innovative technology could significantly improve the management of hypertension and reduce the risk of associated complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, dementia, and vision loss.
