Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring by a Wearable Ultrasonic Patch (360G-Wellcome-215841_Z_19_Z)

Developing a wearable ultrasonic transducer array requires the combination of new strategies in materials processing, mechanical engineering, and device design. Specifically, we will achieve: Aim 1: BP measurement optimization, validation and clinical trial. This aim identifies the best strategies to measure the BP waveform by a single transducer element and guarantee its accuracy, precision and minimizing its measurement uncertainty. Additionally, the testing result will be validated with AAMI SP10 standard and compared commercial tonometer (SphygmoCor EM3®) and volume clamper (Care Taker®). Aim 2: Develop the phased array (PA) control mechanism on a stretchable platform. Single transducer element emits an ultrasonic wave in a single direction, and can incorporate noise generated at the complex interfaces and barriers in the human tissue. PA ultrasonic probes can focus and steer the ultrasonic beam electronically to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Currently, there is no established study to implement PA controls in an elastic electronic system. Aim 3: Integrate stretchable PA control electronics with the transducers. Ultrasonic functionality has never been demonstrated in a stretchable system. Strategies in mechanical design and novel materials processing are needed to incorporate the transducer arrays, control system, and the structural units in a soft, thin and stretchable format.