Wearable heart ultrasound that watches your heart in real time
Official title: A wearable orthogonal ultrasound array for continuous imaging of the heart
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11512548 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable ultrasound device will continuously monitor heart function non-invasively to help detect changes early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $544,830 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL171652-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11512548 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cardiovascular conditions or those at risk who would benefit from continuous heart monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart conditions or those who do not need continuous monitoring may not gain direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a comfortable, stretchable wearable ultrasound patch that watches the heart from the chest in two directions at once. It uses a new liquid-metal electrode design to keep imaging high quality while being worn over time. The device will pair with algorithms to produce real-time heart images and tracking of heart function without constant hospital visits. If successful, it could provide clinicians with continuous data to guide treatment during recovery or acute illness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have continuous heart monitoring outside the hospital, leading to earlier detection of problems and timely interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous wearable ultrasound work has shown promise for noninvasive monitoring, but continuous two-plane imaging is a novel, closer-to-home approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Sheng — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Sheng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Modulating deep brain activity with focused ultrasound for cocaine use disorder
A study will test whether targeting a deep brain region with focused ultrasound can alter brain signals related to craving in people with cocaine use disorder.
-
Dose-Dependent Brain Wire Modulation with Light Ultrasound in Deep White Matter
A small early study tests whether gentle, noninvasive ultrasound can change how deep brain white matter tracts work in healthy adults.
-
Ultrasound-guided brain circuit targets for treatment-resistant depression
This grant tests whether focused ultrasound can safely and reversibly adjust brain circuits linked to negative mood in people with treatment-resistant depression.
-
Ultrasound biomarkers to diagnose and predict treatment response for plantar heel pain
A study will test advanced ultrasound imaging to find biomarkers that help diagnose plantar heel pain and predict who will respond to targeted treatments.
-
Brain ultrasound and microcirculation to understand early brain development in HIV-exposed uninfected infants
We’re studying how brain ultrasound and blood flow patterns in newborns exposed to HIV and antiretroviral drugs (but not infected) relate to their early neurodevelopment.
-
A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.