Li Chenhang, Wang Heling, Song Ziwu, Zhang Wei, Pan Yuxin, Zhao Zihao, Qiu Chaorui, Yin Kaiping, Han Mengdi, Wang Allison Bingqing, Luan Haiwen, Li Jiahong, Yan Wenyuan, Chen Shulin, Shen Haixu, Liu Tzu-Li, Lee Sabrina S M, Ding Wenbo, Huang Yonggang, Rogers John A, Wu Changsheng, Ni Xiaoyue
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Sci Adv. 2025 Sep 5;11(36):eady0534. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ady0534. Epub 2025 Sep 3.
Assessing the mechanical properties of soft tissues holds broad clinical relevance. Advances in flexible electronics offer possibilities for wearable monitoring of tissue stiffness. However, existing technologies often rely on tethered setups or require frequent calibration, restricting their use in ambulatory environments. This study introduces a mechano-acoustic wave sensing technology for automated, wireless elastography. The patch-form sensor maintains conformal contact with the skin, regardless of body motion or deformation. It provides continuous, depth-sensitive estimation of subcutaneous tissue stiffness through real-time surface wave dispersion analysis. Theoretical and experimental investigations on phantom materials and tissues spanning a wide range of Young's modulus (in kilopascals to megapascals) demonstrate the capability of the device to rapidly and robustly evaluate the stiffness at depths up to several centimeters. The device shows compatibility with various tissue models, with results consistent with in-parallel ultrasound elastography measurements. Deployment of the device during exercises confirms its viability for ambulatory monitoring, enabling continuous assessment of variation in tissue stiffness.
评估软组织的力学性能具有广泛的临床意义。柔性电子技术的进步为可穿戴式组织硬度监测提供了可能。然而，现有技术通常依赖于有线设置或需要频繁校准，限制了它们在动态环境中的使用。本研究介绍了一种用于自动无线弹性成像的机械声波传感技术。贴片式传感器无论身体运动或变形如何，都能与皮肤保持共形接触。它通过实时表面波频散分析提供皮下组织硬度的连续、深度敏感估计。对一系列杨氏模量（从千帕到兆帕）的模拟材料和组织进行的理论和实验研究表明，该设备能够快速、稳健地评估深度达几厘米处的硬度。该设备显示出与各种组织模型的兼容性，结果与并行超声弹性成像测量一致。在运动过程中部署该设备证实了其用于动态监测的可行性，能够持续评估组织硬度的变化。
