Wearable ultrasound patch promises continuous fetal monitoring

Researchers have developed UPatch, a wearable ultrasound patch that can continuously image a fetus and track blood flow and heart rate, addressing the limitations of intermittent hospital scans. The device is currently a tethered, proof-of-concept and was tested against conventional ultrasound in 62 pregnant participants, with 52 pregnant women undergoing continuous monitoring. In one case of pre-eclampsia, UPatch helped reveal intrauterine growth restriction, prompting a cesarean delivery. The team envisions a wireless version for home use, with potential benefits for low-resource settings and earlier detection of complications.