Recording central blood flow velocity waveform by conformal ultrasonic devices

项目总结 该项目旨在开发一种软可穿戴换能器阵列，用于连续、准确、非 血流速度波形的有创测量。血流速度波形可以提供关键的 关于主要器官活动和精神状态变化的信息，这将有助于提高患者 意识，辅助预防性护理，并作为个性化医疗的基础。传统型 测量方案包括导管植入，这是有侵入性和风险的，以及多普勒超声， 这在很大程度上依赖于用户，并且通常具有错误和伪像。这项研究有别于现有的 方法，因为它提供了几个独特的功能。首先，由于其低调的外形因素，可穿戴式 超声装置可以连续测量血流速度波形，而不会收缩 主体的自然运动。其次，这种装置具有与人类皮肤相似的机械性能， 因此可以实现与皮肤的保形和亲密接触，从而允许准确和稳定 测量。第三，相控阵控制机构便于超声聚焦和转向 具有预定义入射角度的任何位置的光束，这提高了信噪比并消除了 手动操作的用户错误。为此，通过将材料科学、机械设计和 电子集成，我们将使用迭代设计的实验来了解和优化 单个超声换能器的性能。然后，我们将开发相控阵控制机制在一个 可穿戴平台，实现超声波波束聚焦和转向。在那之后，我们将整合可伸展的 换能器阵列配合相控阵控制电路，实现连续准确的血液记录 流速波形图。这项拟议的研究是同类研究中第一次使用柔软、可伸展的系统来 诊断和监测皮肤下的深层组织。舒适、非侵入性血流的可用性 监测设备将从根本上改变相关疾病的诊断和治疗方式， 这将对临床实践产生直接的影响。这款可穿戴设备也将改变公众 感知血流监测，促进预防性护理，并提供前所未有的数据流 医疗专业人员，这将转化为显著降低相关死亡率和医疗保健 成本。 好了！

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposed project aims to develop a soft wearable transducer array for continuous, accurate, and non- invasive measurement of blood flow velocity waveforms. The blood flow velocity waveform can provide critical information about the major organ activities and psychiatric state changes, which would help raise patient awareness, assist preventive care, and serve as the basis for personalized medicine. Conventional measurement protocols include catheter implants, which is invasive and risky, and Doppler ultrasonography, which is heavily user-dependent and often has errors and artifacts. This research is distinct from the existing methods, because it offers several unique features. First, due to its low-profile form factors, the wearable ultrasonic device enables continuous measurement of the blood flow velocity waveform without constricting the natural movement of the subject. Second, this device has similar mechanical properties to the human skin and therefore can achieve a conformal and intimate contact with the skin, which allows accurate and stable measurements. Third, the phased array control mechanism facilitates focusing and steering the ultrasonic beam at any locations with predefined incident angles, which enhances the signal-to-noise-ratio and removes user errors for manual operations. Towards that end, by combining materials science, mechanical design, and electronics integration, we will use an iterative design of experiments to understand and optimize the performance of a single ultrasonic transducer. Then, we will develop phased array control mechanism on a wearable platform to achieve ultrasonic beam focusing and steering. After that, we will integrate the stretchable transducer array with the phased array control circuit to achieve continuous and accurate recording of blood flow velocity waveforms. The proposed research is the first of its kind to use a soft, stretchable system to diagnose and monitor deep tissues under the skin. The availability of a comfortable, non-invasive blood flow monitoring device will make a fundamental difference in how related diseases are diagnosed and treated, which will have a direct impact on the clinical practices. This wearable device will also shift the public perception of blood flow monitoring, promote preventive care, and provide unprecedented data streams for medical professionals, which will translate into significant reductions in associated mortality and healthcare costs. !