Eco-Friendly Silicon Ultrasound Patch Outperforms Traditional Devices: Study Suggests - Video

In a new development for medical imaging, a team of researchers has created a high-performance, lead-free ultrasound patch using silicon nanostructures, offering a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional devices.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight a revolutionary silicon-based wearable ultrasound patch that outperforms conventional lead (Pb)-based transducers in both output and image quality, without the environmental or health risks associated with lead.

Wearable ultrasound devices are increasingly used in hospital diagnostics, rehabilitation, and telemedicine. However, most commercial transducers rely on toxic lead-based ceramics to generate and receive sound waves. This raises significant safety and environmental concerns, especially for prolonged or widespread use. To overcome these limitations, the research team engineered a silicon-based disposable ultrasound patch with superior capabilities.

The team used semiconductor processing technology to create an ultrathin, flexible patch by forming silicon into a nanocolumn structure just a few hundred micrometers thick. By eliminating the traditionally required matching and backing layers, they simplified the structure while enhancing performance. This novel design maintains stable function under movement and conforms easily to the skin.

Performance tests showed that the silicon-based patch delivered more than 30% higher output pressure than commercial lead-based transducers, resulting in sharper imaging. It accurately measured blood flow velocity and vessel diameter, even in dynamic areas like the neck, and achieved over 96% accuracy when compared with clinical blood pressure monitors.

Because it uses silicon and standard semiconductor fabrication methods, the device can be mass-produced at a cost approximately 1/20th that of conventional ultrasound units. This makes it not only safer but also significantly more affordable and environmentally sustainable.

Reference: Kang, DH., Cho, S., Kim, H.Y. et al. Silicon nanocolumn-based disposable and flexible ultrasound patches. Nat Commun 16, 6609 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61903-x