If you’ve ever had an ultrasound at a medical office, you know the deal.
There’s that cold goo and the probe that sends out sound waves to create a black and white image of what’s inside.
But now there might be a whole new deal: researchers have come up with an ultrasound system that’s small and wearable.
The team out of MIT created a high-tech device that’s about one square inch in size and just a few millimeters thick.
The device has an ultrasound probe built into it (there’s even gel in there!)
And it can stay in place for at least 48 hours, even when there’s water or sweat on the skin.
Ultrasounds don’t typically take two days to carry out, but the researchers say it will be useful for these devices to work a little longer than standard procedures.
They could see how an organ is responding to medication, for example.
Or watch a stomach take in food and drink and then process them.
The only catch is that the device isn’t wireless… yet.
People wearing the devices are hooked up to a long cable.
But the scientists are working on that.
And judging by how much they’ve already miniaturized, it could just be a small hurdle to overcome.
Today in South Haven, Michigan, it’s day one of the National Blueberry Festival.
There will be music, games, parades, a 5K road race.
And there’s still time to train for Saturday’s blueberry pie eating contest.
This Stamp-Sized Ultrasound Patch Can Image Internal Organs (WIRED)
The National Blueberry Festival
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Photo by Felice Frankel, courtesy MIT
