Researchers from Northwestern University and Washington University have developed a ground-breaking, shape-shifting ultrasound sticker to detect life-threatening post-surgical complications such as fluid build-up or leaks. The soft, flexible sticker can be attached to organs, are biocompatible and dissolve naturally, eliminating the need for extraction. Once attached the stickers respond to changes in pH levels, signaling abnormal fluid leakage. The stickers allow for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of internal tissues and offers the potential for earlier detection of post-surgery complications.
“Right now, there is no good way whatsoever to detect these kinds of leaks,” said gastrointestinal surgeon Dr. Chet Hammill, who led the clinical evaluation and animal model studies at Washington University with collaborator Dr. Matthew MacEwan, an assistant professor of neurosurgery. “The majority of operations in the abdomen — when you have to remove something and sew it back together — carry a risk of leaking. We can’t fully prevent those complications, but maybe we can catch them earlier to minimize harm. Even if we could detect a leak 24- or 48-hours earlier, we could catch complications before the patient becomes really sick. This new technology has potential to completely change the way we monitor patients after surgery.”
The stickers contain metal disks and hydrogel; hydrogel swells in response to changes in pH causing the metal disks to move apart. The changes in this placement are visible on an ultrasound making it possible to monitor changes on the organ. The materials used in the sticker are bioresorbable and disappear naturally in the body once it is no longer needed. The technology may revolutionize patient recovery and reduce the risk of severe post-surgical outcomes.
Source: Northwestern Now