Wearable ultrasound patch for noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring after pediatric cardiac surgery - significance

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering awarded George Mason University $265,018 on August 15, 2026, under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286) to develop a disposable wearable ultrasound patch for real-time, noninvasive monitoring of cardiac output and blood pressure in neonates and infants following cardiac surgery.

The project addresses the absence of continuous hemodynamic monitoring solutions for post-surgical pediatric cardiac patients, who face high risk of low cardiac output syndrome and mortality rates reaching 50% in transplant cases. The ultrasound patch will employ three innovations: a miniaturized disposable transducer fabricated through additive manufacturing and laser patterning; a tunable steering array controlled using stepped frequency modulated continuous wave signals; and novel signal processing algorithms for angle-independent blood velocity and arterial pulse wave velocity assessment. Validation will occur through benchtop acoustic characterization against conventional flow and pressure measurement methods, with in vivo feasibility demonstrated in a juvenile pig model.

The award obligates $265,018 with a period of performance from August 15, 2026, through July 31, 2028. Performance occurs in Fairfax, Virginia. This is a Project Grant, the standard assistance type under NIBIB's research portfolio.

Neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery face a high risk of postoperative hemodynamic instability, leading to low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), graft failure, and severe hemodynamic compromise, with mortality rates reaching 50% in transplant cases and 34% for delayed sternal closure (DSC). Despite 40,000 pediatric cardiac surgeries performed annually in the U.S., no real-time, continuous hemodynamic monitoring monitoring solution exists. Current methods are intermittent, indirect, or invasive, making long-term bedside monitoring impractical and delaying early intervention for hemodynamic complications. Objectives. This project aims to develop a disposable wearable ultrasound patch for real-time, noninvasive monitoring of cardiac output and blood pressure in neonates and infants (0-1 year). The ultrasound patch and associated instrumentation and signal processing algorithms will be validated through benchtop experiments and in vivo feasibility will be demonstrated through experiments in an juvenile PIG model. Innovation. The proposed project introduces three innovations: (1) a miniaturized disposable ultrasound patch fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques; (2) a novel tunable steering array; and (3) novel signal processing and instrumentation for angle-independent blood velocity and arterial pulse wave velocity assessment. Approach. The disposable ultrasound patch will be fabricated using an innovative one-step laser patterning and 3D printing process. A tunable array will be controlled using stepped frequency modulated continuous wave signals, and the received data will be analyzed using vector doppler signal processing algorithms. The transducer, instrumentation and signal processing algorithms will be validated against conventional methods for flow and pressure measurements through benchtop acoustic characterization and flow phantom fluid dynamics experiements, and through an in vivo study in an animal model. Impact. By providing a noninvasive continuous hemodynamic monitoring solution, this project has the potential to transform pediatric cardiovascular care by enabling early complication detection, reducing invasive procedures, and improving surgical outcomes. The probe's innovations extend to vascular and transplant surgeries, where continuous graft perfusion monitoring is critical. Additionally, the pediatric phantom model will serve as a standardized platform for testing next-generation ultrasound-based diagnostic tools. By advancing real-time, noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring, this project supports the NIH's mission to drive biomedical innovation and improve healthcare outcomes, accelerating the clinical translation of bioelectronic solutions for both pediatric and adult cardiovascular care.