Published on
28/05/2026 - 7:00 GMT+2
Scientists have developed a stick-on ultrasound device that can continuously track a baby's health in the womb - potentially catching complications that current available technology misses.
The patch, a proof-of-concept device called UPatch, can be worn for hours at a time, imaging the fetus and monitoring blood flow in real time, including in moving structures like the umbilical cord.
It was developed by a team led by Professor Sheng Xu at Stanford University, as well researchers from Oxford University and UC San Diego - and findings have been published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
