Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a soft wearable ultrasound patch capable of continuously monitoring a fetus and umbilical cord for extended periods during pregnancy, even while both are constantly moving.
Researchers say the technology could help doctors identify complications earlier in high-risk pregnancies and improve access to prenatal care in regions with limited medical resources.
During clinical testing, the device detected prolonged abnormal fetal signals in one pregnancy, prompting doctors to perform an early Cesarean section at 29 weeks. Scientists believe the continuous monitoring system may have helped save the baby’s life.
The study was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
Unlike traditional prenatal ultrasounds, which provide only brief examinations and require trained specialists to operate the equipment, the new patch is designed to remain attached to the body and automatically monitor fetal anatomy and blood flow in real time.
Researchers explained that one of the biggest challenges in long-term fetal monitoring is the constant movement of both the fetus and the umbilical cord. To solve this problem, the team developed autonomous tracking algorithms capable of continuously locating and following the umbilical cord even when the fetus or mother changes position.
According to the scientists, continuous monitoring allowed them to observe dynamic changes in blood flow that might not be detected during standard ultrasound examinations.
The soft ultrasound patch is flexible and designed to conform comfortably to curved areas of the body.
The technology was evaluated in a multicenter clinical study conducted at UC San Diego Health and the University of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Researchers collected hours of continuous monitoring data from 62 pregnancies, including both healthy pregnancies and cases involving gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, and abnormal fetal growth.
The device’s measurements closely matched those obtained using standard handheld ultrasound systems.
The research team now plans to integrate the patch into a compact wireless electronic platform that could eventually make long-term remote fetal monitoring more accessible and convenient.
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