Summary: Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a wearable, wireless ultrasound device for non-invasive muscle monitoring, showing potential in healthcare and human-machine interfaces by tracking muscle activity and supporting respiratory health.

Key Takeaways

  • Non-invasive Muscle Monitoring: The wearable, wireless ultrasound device enables continuous, high-resolution monitoring of muscle function without invasive procedures, showing significant potential in healthcare.
  • Broad Applications in Health and Interfaces: Tested on both the diaphragm and forearm muscles, the device supports respiratory health assessments and functions as a human-machine interface, capable of controlling a robotic arm and playing virtual games.
  • Enhanced Imaging vs. Electromyography: Offering higher resolution than traditional electromyography, this device leverages ultrasound and AI for detailed, long-term muscle tracking, which could be beneficial in clinical and assistive technology settings.

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Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a wearable, wireless ultrasound device for continuous muscle monitoring, with potential uses in healthcare and human-machine interfaces. This device, powered by a battery and applied to the skin with adhesive, enables high-resolution tracking of muscle function without invasive procedures.

Led by Sheng Xu, PhD, professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, the research was published in Nature Electronics, in collaboration with pulmonologist Jinghong Li, PhD, from UC San Diego Health.

High-Resolution Ultrasound Surpasses EMG

During tests, the device was placed on the rib cage to monitor diaphragm motion and thickness, supporting respiratory health assessment. “By tracking diaphragm activity, the technology could potentially support patients with respiratory conditions and those reliant on mechanical ventilation,” says co-author Joseph Wang, PhD, a professor of nanoengineering.

The device also monitored forearm muscles, allowing it to control a robotic arm and play a virtual game, demonstrating its use as a human-machine interface.

This wearable ultrasound presents a compelling alternative to electromyography (EMG), which struggles with low resolution. Unlike EMG, ultrasound can penetrate deep tissues for precise imaging. “This technology could potentially be worn by individuals during their daily routines for continuous, long-term monitoring,” says co-first author Xiangjun Chen, a PhD candidate.

Encased in flexible silicone, the device integrates three components: a single ultrasound transducer, a custom wireless circuit, and a battery lasting up to three hours. A key innovation is the use of a single transducer to capture detailed radiofrequency signals, achieving high spatial resolution for clinical applications like measuring diaphragm thickness. An AI algorithm further processes these signals to identify specific hand gestures with high accuracy.

DEVICE PROMISES ADVANCED RESPIRATORY CARE

In trials, the device distinguished COPD patients’ breathing patterns from those of healthy participants, highlighting its potential in respiratory care. “This demonstrates the technology’s potential for clinical applications in respiratory care,” adds co-first author Muyang Lin, PhD.

When worn on the forearm, the device tracked wrist and finger movements with sensitivity, identifying 13 degrees of freedom. In tests, users controlled a robotic arm to pipette water and navigated a virtual game. “These demonstrations underscore the technology’s potential for prosthetics, gaming, and human-machine interfaces,” says co-first author Wentong Yue, another PhD candidate.

Future improvements will aim to enhance the device’s accuracy, portability, and efficiency, researchers say.