Researchers Develop Wearable Ultrasound Patch for High-Risk Pregnancies

The patch could help doctors monitor conditions that could cause complications in pregnancy.

May 27, 2026

Key Highlights

The device is a flexible, palm-sized adhesive patch that connects to a computer for real-time ultrasound data interpretation.
It addresses limitations of current tools by providing continuous monitoring, reducing the need for repeated appointments and technician involvement.
The development involved creating sophisticated algorithms to track moving fetal structures deep inside the uterus.
The ultrasound patch has been approved by the FDA and demonstrates results statistically equivalent to traditional ultrasound diagnostics.
This technology could significantly improve management of pregnancies complicated by conditions like intrauterine growth restriction.

Researchers have developed a wearable ultrasound patch to monitor high-risk pregnancies. The device had its design and early validation published in Nature Biotechnology.

The patch holds promise for “helping doctors monitor conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction, which affects 10% of all pregnancies. In this pregnancy complication, the fetus grows slowly due to limited oxygen or nutrients, a result of insufficient blood flow through the umbilical cord.”

The patch itself is a “flexible adhesive sticker, about the size of the palm of a hand, that adheres to the abdomen. It is connected by a cable to a computer that interprets ultrasound data.” Current diagnostic tools “usually show fetal status in small snapshots of time” and require a trained ultrasound technician and an appointment.

Development of the patch was complicated by the need for it to “collect and interpret information from deep inside the uterus.” Plus, everything that needs to be visualized is moving. So, the team developed an “image-segmentation algorithm that can track the placenta-anchored end of the umbilical cord in real time, a key element of their design.” The device meets safety standards set by the FDA and produced “statistically equivalent results” compared to traditional medicines.