MIT researchers are developing patches to monitor your organs live

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed a patch that can monitor organs live and display them as an image.

Technology has changed public and private life immensely in recent decades. Algorithms work around the clock to simplify processes. This also applies to medicine. The latest achievement: a patch that can monitor organs.

The tiny machine was made by MIT researchers developed. While it’s still quite laborious to create an accurate image of internal organs today, the newly invented patch achieves the same results as large, expensive machines.

MIT researchers harness ultrasound

The patch is about the size of a postage stamp and is supposed to stick particularly well to the body thanks to a special adhesive. It does not matter whether the patient moves, sits, jogs or performs other activities. But how does the novel invention create accurate images of the organs?

Here, the researchers made use of ultrasound technology. Sound waves are sent into the body and reflected to varying degrees depending on the organ and position. The patch absorbs this reflection and stores the information on a data medium. The battery of the device lasts for about 48 hours.

Evaluation via smartphones should be possible in the future

In order for an image to emerge from the reflections, the pavement still needs the support of a special machine. This reads out the information collected and converts it into clear images using an algorithm. Compared to previous approaches, the patch does not eliminate this extra step, but it does make the whole process easier.

In the near future, however, the technology should be so advanced that the plaster only has to send the determined data to a smartphone. It evaluates the information and provides appropriate recommendations for action.

While the patch is still in development, it shows how close research has come to simply monitoring our overall vital signs.

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