Wearable microwave health devices improve access to diagnostics

Researchers at the University of Oulu are developing microwave-based wearable devices that could make health monitoring more accessible for people in rural regions and smaller health centers. The approach is part of the 6GESS research programme and includes tools such as tumor-detecting bras, leg sleeves for identifying blood clots, and helmets for monitoring the effects of radiation therapy.

Finland’s long travel distances make decentralizing health monitoring particularly valuable. Mariella Särestöniemi and her team emphasize that portable systems can reduce the effort required for patients to participate in early diagnostic checks. “Instead of having to travel hundreds of kilometers to a hospital for examinations, a person could go to their local health center for a quick preliminary scan,” Särestöniemi explains. She adds that this could strengthen regional equality in access to healthcare.

Särestöniemi studies the use of low-power microwaves in wireless health applications. Because different tissues have distinct electrical properties, the radio signal transmitted between antennas can be analyzed to identify anomalies. The research team aims to build portable or lightweight wearable devices suitable for routine use.

“For example, a signal sent through brain or breast tissue behaves differently when it encounters different tissues, which provides data for the doctor interpreting it,” she notes. The system is fast: microwave signals pass through the head in only nanoseconds, enabling quick, straightforward measurements.

Microwave-based bras could support breast cancer screening, especially for people who avoid mammography due to discomfort or long travel distances. These devices are currently undergoing clinical testing in several European countries. Särestöniemi envisions bras that could be used for a brief check at smaller health centers, with results transmitted automatically to the treating physicians.

Another self-monitoring concept is a leg sleeve for patients at increased risk of blood clots after surgery. The sleeve could be used at home several times a day to check for early signs of clot formation.

A particularly promising application involves a helmet design that monitors the effects of radiation therapy in people treated for brain tumors. Current imaging methods are expensive or rely on ionizing radiation, limiting how often they can be used. Microwave measurements, by contrast, offer a low-risk, cost-effective alternative.

Preliminary results suggest that microwave signals can detect small changes in tumor size. “Radiation therapy specialists are very interested in this, as it would allow for more frequent monitoring of treatment safely,” Särestöniemi states.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: The University of Oulu