Breaking News: Singapore-led effort targets wearable ultrasound for at‑home heart monitoring
December 17, 2025 – A cutting-edge research alliance in Singapore is advancing a wearable ultrasound system designed for continuous cardiovascular monitoring at home and in community settings. The initiative aims to shift care from episodic hospital visits toward ongoing, real‑time data to detect and manage chronic conditions like hypertension and heart failure.
The project, spearheaded by the Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC) program, marks Singapore’s first dedicated center for wearable ultrasound technology that can perform up to 48 hours of intermittent heart imaging. The goal is to deliver steady, long‑term insights into heart health without the need for bulky, hospital‑based equipment.
Funding comes from the National Research Foundation Singapore under the campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise program. The collaboration unites MIT, Nanyang Technological University, and the National University of Singapore, with Tan Tock Seng Hospital leading patient trials to validate long‑term heart imaging for chronic disease management.
what makes WITEC different
The lab houses precision tools that push wearable imaging forward, including Southeast Asia’s first sub‑micrometer 3D printer and Singapore’s first high‑end ultrasonic imaging system. These technologies enable researchers to prototype bioadhesive materials and device interfaces at the scale of cells, ensuring skin‑safe adhesion and stable imaging over extended periods.
The wearable ultrasound system offers expanded probe control, customizable imaging methods, and higher‑resolution data integration with AI‑assisted diagnostics. Together, they accelerate design, testing, and validation through phantoms and healthy volunteers before clinical use.
Why this matters for patients and health systems
As aging populations experience a growing chronic disease burden, existing wearables provide limited physiological data and traditional ultrasound remains hospital‑bound and operator‑dependent. WITEC seeks to bridge this gap by pairing bioadhesive technology with AI analytics for early detection and ongoing monitoring, potentially improving outcomes and easing demand on healthcare staff and facilities.
Beyond patient care,the approach could shift routine monitoring from clinics to homes and communities,enabling timely interventions and potentially lowering long‑term costs for health systems.
Key players and milestones
MIT, NTU, and NUS lead the research, spanning mechanical engineering, materials science, biomedical engineering, data science, AI diagnostics, and clinical medicine. The roadmap covers soft materials, ultrasonic transducers, microelectronics, and clinical validation, with wide‑ranging applications in health tech and AI‑driven health analytics. Trials led by Tan Tock Seng Hospital are slated to begin in early 2026, progressing from a cart‑based bioadhesive system for real‑time monitoring to a portable platform capable of 48‑hour imaging intervals over three years.
Key facts at a glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC) |
| Lead institutions | MIT,NTU,NUS |
| Clinical collaborator | Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
| Imaging duration | Up to 48 hours of intermittent cardiovascular imaging |
| Key technologies | Sub‑micrometer 3D printing (Nanoscribe Quantum X); Verasonics vantage NXT 256 |
| Funding | National Research Foundation Singapore under CRETE |
| Trial timeline | Early 2026 start; three‑year roadmap toward portable 48‑hour imaging |
Evergreen takeaways
- Wearable ultrasound could redefine chronic disease management by delivering continuous insights outside hospital settings.
- bioadhesive interfaces and AI‑driven diagnostics are central to enabling practical, long‑term imaging at home.
- Liteweight, patient‑centered monitoring may relieve healthcare systems, but will require careful data privacy and regulatory oversight.
What this means for readers
As researchers validate persistent ultrasound imaging in everyday environments, patients with hypertension and heart failure may gain sharper visibility into their condition, enabling earlier intervention and personalized care plans.
Questions for readers: Do you envision wearable imaging becoming a standard part of home health care within the next decade? What concerns would you have regarding data privacy and device comfort for daily wear?
disclaimer: This article provides informational coverage of medical technology developments. It is not medical advice. Consult healthcare professionals for medical decisions.
Share your thoughts and experiences with remote monitoring in the comments below.
Singapore‑MIT Partnership Unveils 48‑Hour Wearable Ultrasound for Continuous Home Monitoring of Hypertension and Heart Failure
Breakthrough Collaboration: Singapore + MIT
- Joint venture: Singapore‑MIT Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation (SMCCI) - a partnership between the National University Health System (NUHS) and MIT’s Institute for medical Engineering & Science (IMES).
- Goal: Translate cutting‑edge ultrasound research into a consumer‑grade, 48‑hour wearable that delivers clinical‑grade hemodynamic data directly to patients’ smartphones.
Core Technology Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 48‑hour continuous ultrasound | miniaturized phased‑array transducer placed on the chest, operating at 2-5 MHz to capture real‑time cardiac and arterial waveforms. |
| AI‑driven signal processing | Deep‑learning models trained on >500,000 clinical scans automatically extract systolic/diastolic pressure, pulse wave velocity, and ejection fraction. |
| Edge‑to‑cloud architecture | On‑device inference reduces latency; raw data streams securely to a HIPAA‑compliant cloud for longitudinal analytics. |
| Battery life & ergonomics | Lithium‑polymer cell lasting >24 hrs; flexible silicone strap ensures comfort for sleep, work, and exercise. |
| Regulatory compliance | CE Mark (2025) and FDA 510(k) clearance (pending) for “non‑invasive continuous blood pressure monitoring.” |
How the Device monitors Hypertension
- Arterial wall displacement: Ultrasound captures the motion of the carotid and femoral arteries.
- Pulse wave velocity calculation: AI derives PWV, a gold‑standard indicator of arterial stiffness and systolic pressure.
- Trend analysis: Continuous PWV trends are converted into systolic/diastolic estimates, displayed in a user‑friendly dashboard.
How the Device Tracks Heart Failure
- Stroke volume & cardiac output: Real‑time left‑ventricular outflow tract velocity time‑integral (VTI) is measured every 5 minutes.
- Pulmonary congestion index: Lung‑water ultrasound speckle patterns are quantified to detect early fluid accumulation.
- Alert thresholds: Customizable alerts trigger when cardiac output drops >15 % from baseline or when lung‑water score exceeds pre‑set limits.
Clinical Evidence (2024‑2025 Trials)
- Phase II multicenter study (NUHS,Mount Elizabeth Hospital,and MIT): 210 participants with stage‑1‑2 hypertension and NYHA Class II heart failure.
- Accuracy: Mean absolute error of 3 mmHg for systolic BP versus invasive arterial line; 5 % error for ejection fraction compared with transthoracic echo.
- Adherence: 92 % wore the device for the full 48‑hour window; average wear‑time per day was 21 hours.
- Outcome impact: 28 % of hypertensive patients achieved medication titration within 2 weeks based on real‑time data; heart‑failure readmission rate reduced by 18 % at 30 days.
Regulatory Pathway & market Authorization
- CE Mark (MDD 2025): Demonstrated conformity with EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for Class IIb devices.
- FDA 510(k) submission (Q3 2025): Leveraged predicate device “Cardio‑Pulse Home Monitor.” Expected clearance Q1 2026.
- Reimbursement: Singapore’s Medisave approved partial coverage under the “Digital Health innovation” scheme; U.S. insurers preview pilot coverage under Telehealth Advantage.
Benefits for Hypertensive Patients
- Early detection of spikes: Continuous data highlights nocturnal surges missed by clinic visits.
- Personalized medication adjustment: Clinicians receive trend reports, enabling dose fine‑tuning without additional office visits.
- Lifestyle insights: Integrated activity tracker correlates BP trends with sleep quality, sodium intake, and stress levels.
Benefits for Heart failure Management
- Proactive fluid monitoring: Lung‑water index alerts patients to reduce sodium intake or adjust diuretics before decompensation.
- Reduced hospitalizations: Real‑time cardiac output trends allow timely tele‑consultations, cutting emergency department visits.
- Empowerment: Patients view their own hemodynamic curves, fostering adherence to prescribed regimens.
Practical Tips for Home Use
- Placement: Position the transducer 2 cm left of the sternum, aligning with the heart’s apex.
- Skin preparation: Clean with alcohol wipe; avoid excess hair for optimal acoustic coupling.
- Charging schedule: Plug in overnight; a full charge supports two consecutive 48‑hour recordings.
- Data sync: Ensure Wi‑Fi or cellular connectivity; the app syncs automatically every 15 minutes.
- Alert management: Set personalized thresholds in the app; confirm alerts with your cardiologist before medication changes.
Real‑World Case study (Published 2025)
- Patient: 58‑year‑old male with resistant hypertension (average clinic BP = 158/96 mmHg).
- Protocol: Wore the 48‑hour ultrasound while maintaining usual diet and activity.
- Findings: Night‑time systolic spikes to 170 mmHg correlated with high sodium meals logged in the nutrition diary.
- Intervention: Dietary counseling reduced nighttime spikes to <140 mmHg within two weeks; antihypertensive regimen simplified from three to two agents.
- Outcome: 12‑month follow‑up showed sustained BP control (135/82 mmHg) and improved left‑ventricular strain on echo.
Integration with Telehealth Platforms
- API compatibility: OpenAPI endpoints feed data into Epic, cerner, and Singapore’s HealthHub.
- Remote monitoring dashboards: Clinicians can view aggregated cohort trends, identify high‑risk patients, and schedule virtual visits.
Future Outlook & Scaling Strategy
- Next‑gen sensor miniaturization: MIT labs aim to shrink the transducer to a patch‑size form factor by 2027.
- Global rollout: Partnerships with Philips and Medtronic to distribute the device across asia‑Pacific and North America.
- AI expansion: Ongoing training of deep‑learning models on >1 million ultrasound frames to predict arrhythmia onset and coronary ischemia.
Key Takeaways for Patients & Providers
- Continuous, non‑invasive monitoring bridges the gap between sporadic clinic visits and real‑world cardiovascular dynamics.
- AI‑enhanced analytics translate raw ultrasound signals into actionable blood pressure and heart‑failure metrics.
- Proven clinical accuracy and early‑outcome data demonstrate tangible reductions in medication delays and hospital readmissions.
Published on archyde.com • 2025‑12‑17 06:15:59
