A research team from the University of California, San Diego has developed an innovative wearable ultrasound patch for sustainable non-invasive monitoring of blood pressure. This device has completed rigorous clinical testing on over 100 patients for the first time, marking an important advancement in this field. The relevant research was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering on the 20th. Compared to traditional cuff style blood pressure monitors, this new patch can provide a continuous stream of blood pressure data, not limited to a single time point, but can capture detailed changes in blood pressure over time. This helps doctors to have a more accurate understanding of patients' blood pressure status, which is particularly beneficial for long-term monitoring of cardiovascular health. This patch design is lightweight, approximately the size of a postage stamp, and can be directly applied to the skin, especially on the forearm area. Its structure includes a flexible substrate made of silicone, with multiple small piezoelectric sensors built-in. These sensors are installed between stretchable copper electrodes and can track changes in blood vessel diameter by emitting and receiving ultrasound waves, which are then converted into blood pressure readings. The research results show that the blood pressure readings provided by this wearable ultrasound patch are comparable to those obtained from traditional blood pressure cuffs, arterial catheters used in intensive care units, and operating rooms. Although arterial catheters provide high-precision blood pressure monitoring, their invasiveness limits their application scope. In contrast, this patch provides a non-invasive, comfortable, and non intrusive way of monitoring blood pressure that does not affect daily activities. In addition, researchers have validated the patch in different scenarios, such as daily activities, posture changes, and receiving treatment in hospitals, and the patch has shown good safety and accuracy. Especially in the testing of cardiac catheterization and intensive care units, the performance of the patch has demonstrated its enormous potential as a non-invasive alternative to arterial catheters. The development of this technology is not only expected to improve the care of cardiovascular disease in clinics and families, but also provides new possibilities for personalized medicine in the future. (New Society)