Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed small, stamp-sized stickers that can capture images of the heart, lungs, and other internal organs using ultrasound technology. The stamp-sized device is pasted on the skin and provides continuous ultrasound imaging of the internal organs for 48 hours. According to the release, the sticker has an area of a postage stamp, i.e., it measures about 2 cm square.

Dr. Xuanhe Zhao, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, stated that the device has opened a new era of wearable imaging with a few patches on the body that can be used to visualize internal organs. The researchers applied the stickers to volunteers, which produced live, high-resolution images of major blood vessels and deeper organs like the heart and lungs. The patches captured images of the organs of the volunteers during different activities, such as sitting, standing, jogging, lifting weights, and biking.

According to the researchers, current ultrasound equipment is bulky and only available in diagnostic centers or doctor′s offices. However, the new stamp-sized device could make the technology as accessible as buying a band-aid at the pharmacy. The ultrasound stickers could be used not only to monitor various internal organs but also the progression of tumors and the development of a fetus in the womb, added Dr. Zhao.