China has developed a sensor that will allow you to look inside blood vessels
Chinese scientists have developed a photoacoustic device to visualize blood flow. It is small enough to fit inside a case resembling a wristwatch. All auxiliary equipment, including a power supply and a laser, is placed in a backpack that weighs no more than 7 kilograms. The latter is designed so that a person can move freely with it, while ensuring the stability of the system.
The researchers described the principle of operation of the gadget. The object – in this case, the human body – absorbs light, the role of which is played by pulses of a compact laser. The energy of light is converted into heat. As a consequence, the temperature of the body begins to change. Due to thermoelastic expansion, sound waves begin to be emitted, which can be detected. Unlike ultrasound, photoacoustics produces clear functional and structural images in good resolution, rather than anatomical images.
With this technique, tissues can be scanned to a depth of up to 30 millimeters. This is optimal for assessing blood vessel health and blood oxygen saturation levels. Study author Lei Xi points out that this is the world’s first photoacoustic device suitable for practical medical applications. By analyzing HR, blood pressure and blood oxygenation level, it is possible to determine with high accuracy how well the human heart is working.
The described device has already been tested on several volunteers who have experienced it under various conditions. The testing confirmed the overall usability of the system and the high level of stability. In the future, the device can be improved and its dimensions reduced down to miniaturized. Scientists are confident that the backpack can be abandoned, placing all the necessary components in the body of a smartwatch. The device can be used not only to assess the condition of blood vessels, but also to diagnose cancer and cardiovascular system ailments at early stages.
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