Wireless ultrasound e-tattoo for continuous blood pressure monitoring
SCH: A biomechanics-guided wireless ultrasonic e-tattoo with an application specific integrated circuit for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
A soft, wireless 'e‑tattoo' that uses ultrasound aims to continuously measure blood pressure without a cuff for people who need ambulatory monitoring, including children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179423 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a soft, wrist‑laminated ultrasound "e‑tattoo" that sends and receives tiny sound pulses to track artery motion. The device uses a very small, low‑power chip and wireless design to run on minimal battery power. Researchers will apply biomechanics models to turn those ultrasound signals into absolute blood pressure numbers. The team will pilot the device in patients who already have arterial catheters in a pediatric cardiac unit to compare the e‑tattoo readings with clinical monitors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who need continuous or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, especially pediatric patients in cardiac intensive care who have arterial lines.
Not a fit: People who do not need ongoing blood pressure tracking, who cannot wear a wrist device, or who have skin sensitivity to adhesives may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer comfortable, cuff‑free, continuous blood pressure monitoring that makes it easier to detect dangerous blood pressure changes sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cuffless blood pressure devices have been tested but often lacked acceptable accuracy, and this ultrasound e‑tattoo approach is novel and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jia, Yaoyao — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Jia, Yaoyao
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 below.