(HealthDay News) – Un portable patch the size of a postage stamp that can monitor the blood pressure on an ongoing basis could soon help people manage their hypertension.
Researchers of the University of California, San Diegowho developed the wearable ultrasound patch, reported in the Nov. 20 issue of the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering which has worked well in tests with more than 100 patients.
Maintain a normal blood pressure (120/80 mm Hg) helps prevent many diseases, from heart diseases y strokes to kidney problems, dementia and vision loss, which is why many patients with high blood pressure use a cuff and meter device to track their levels.
“Traditional cuff blood pressure measurements, which are limited to providing one-time blood pressure values, can cause high critical patterns,” said study co-author, Sai Zhouwho recently received his doctorate from the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.
“Our portable patch offers a continuous flow of blood pressure waveform data”, allowing you to reveal detailed trends in blood pressure fluctuations,” he added in a university press release.
He soft and elastic patch It adheres to the skin and is worn on the forearm. A set of small transducers inside sends and receives ultrasound waves that track changes in the diameter of blood vessels.
The developers said the patch produces results comparable not only to a standard blood pressure cuff, but also to a highly precise but invasive device that is inserted into an artery in intensive care units and operating rooms to continuously monitor blood pressure. pressure.
In tests involving four patients who were in intensive care after surgery and 21 who underwent cardiac catheterization, patch measurements were similar to those of the arterial line. That, the researchers said, shows their potential as a non-invasive alternative.
They have tested the new patch in a variety of conditions, including daily activities such as cycling, raising an arm or leg, meditating, eating, and moving from sitting to standing. In all cases, the readings closely matched those of the blood pressure cuffs.
“Blood pressure can be all over the place, depending on factors such as white coat syndrome (being in a doctor’s office), masked hypertension, daily activities, or medication use, making it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. or manage treatment,” he said Sheng Xu professor of chemical and nano engineering at UC San Diego who developed the patch.
“That’s why it was so important for us to test this device in a wide variety of real-world and clinical settings,” he added. His team now plans to refine the device and conduct large-scale clinical trials.
*More information about home blood pressure monitoring from the American Heart Association. SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, press release, November 20, 2024
*Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter ©The New York Times 2024
