Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind wearable device capable of continuously scanning the lungs and heart of hospital patients while they rest in bed – offering a revolutionary alternative to CT scans.

The belt-like device, attached around a patient’s chest, uses ultrasound and works like a CT scanner. Rather than taking an isolated snapshot, it can produce a series of dynamic, high-resolution images of the heart, lungs and internal organs over time, giving doctors deeper insight into a patient’s condition. The device can be worn in bed and also reduces the need for repeated trips to radiology or exposure to doses of ionising radiation.

The breakthrough device has been developed at the University of Bath in collaboration with Polish technology company Netrix and is detailed in a recent publication in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement.

Groundbreaking sensor technology promises safer, real-time monitoring for hospitalised cardiothoracic patients.