The continuous monitoring capability of the patch addresses a critical gap in current clinical practices. "Typically, cerebral blood flow is monitored at specific times each day, and those measurements do not necessarily reflect what may happen during the rest of the day," said Sai Zhou, a materials science and engineering Ph.D. candidate. This device can detect fluctuations that occur between scheduled measurements, potentially providing crucial information for timely intervention, especially during events like the onset of a stroke.
Patients undergoing and recovering from brain surgery can also benefit from this technology. "This device could offer information that is crucial for timely intervention," added Geonho Park, a chemical and nano engineering Ph.D. student.
The patch, roughly the size of a postage stamp, is constructed from a silicone elastomer embedded with several layers of stretchy electronics:
- Piezoelectric Transducers: These components produce and receive ultrasound waves, enabling the monitoring of cerebral blood flow.
- Copper Mesh Layer: This layer, made of spring-shaped wires, enhances signal quality by minimizing interference.
- Stretchable Electrodes: These electrodes maintain the patch's flexibility and functionality.
The data collected by the patch are post-processed using custom algorithms to reconstruct three-dimensional information such as the size, angle, and position of the brain’s major arteries.
The next step for the researchers is to collaborate with clinicians at the UC San Diego School of Medicine to test the patch on patients with neurological conditions affecting cerebral blood flow. Xu has co-founded Softsonics, a startup company, to commercialize this technology.
