Latest news with #Netrix
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
University of Bath develops wearable device for continuous heart monitoring
Researchers at the University of Bath in the UK have developed a wearable belt-like device that can continuously scan the lungs and heart, providing an alternative to traditional computed tomography (CT) scans. Worn around the chest, the device utilises ultrasound and functions similarly to a CT scanner. It was developed at the university in partnership with Netrix, a Polish technology company. According to the university, this device provides multiple images of the lungs, heart, and other organs over time, unlike a CT scan that captures a single image. This continuous monitoring can give doctors an understanding of a person's condition without needing repeated radiology visits or exposure to ionising radiation. The wearable employs ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) to produce real-time images via a skin-conforming sensor array positioned on the chest of a patient. It has been designed for patient comfort, featuring soft materials that are suitable for prolonged usage and wireless data transmission for integration with hospital systems. The device's usage extends beyond the hospital, with applications in remote monitoring for home care, especially for the elderly or those with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases. It could also help minimise healthcare expenses by eliminating needless hospital admissions through early detection. University of Bath's electronic and electrical engineering professor Manuch Soleimani said: 'This could fundamentally change how we monitor patients in critical care or post-surgical settings. 'The imaging quality of the device can be on par with an X-ray or CT scan, but instead of a single snapshot, we can monitor how the lungs and heart behave over time, which is far more informative when managing dynamic conditions." Clinical trials are in the planning stages to further refine the solution for regulatory clearance. Initial tests on healthy male volunteers have been concluded, with plans to include female participants with conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in future studies. According to the research team, future enhancements may involve adding more ultrasound channels to improve image resolution and adapting the design for brain imaging in emergency settings such as stroke monitoring in ambulances. "University of Bath develops wearable device for continuous heart monitoring" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Gulf Today
19-05-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Wearable device simulating CT scans enables continuous heart, lung monitoring
Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind wearable device capable of continuously scanning the lungs and heart of hospital patients while they rest in bed, offering a revolutionary alternative to CT scans. The belt-like device, attached around a patient's chest, uses ultrasound and works like a CT scanner. Rather than taking an isolated snapshot, it can produce a series of dynamic, high-resolution images of the heart, lungs and internal organs over time, giving doctors deeper insight into a patient's condition. The breakthrough device has been developed at the University of Bath in collaboration with Polish technology company Netrix and is detailed in a recent publication in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. The soft, skin-conforming sensor array is placed directly on a patient's chest and uses sophisticated ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) to generate images of the heart and lungs in real time, tracking changes in organ function and structure continuously over hours or even days. Currently, patients with conditions such as heart failure, pneumonia, or respiratory distress often require multiple imaging procedures that are intermittent, disruptive, and radiation-intensive. The new device allows for non-invasive, bedside monitoring—minimising the need for transport, improving comfort, and enabling earlier detection of deterioration or recovery. Crucially, the device is designed with patient comfort in mind. Its soft, flexible materials make it suitable for long-term wear, and its wireless data transmission capabilities allow integration with hospital monitoring systems. Future iterations may even offer AI-assisted analysis for clinicians, identifying warning signs before they're visible to the human eye. Beyond hospitals, this technology opens the door to remote monitoring in home care settings, particularly for elderly patients or those with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases. It may also reduce the healthcare burden by preventing unnecessary hospital admissions through early intervention.
