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SINGAPORE [TAC] – Researchers in Singapore and the United States have launched a multi-million dollar initiative to develop the world’s first wearable ultrasound imaging system, aiming to shift chronic disease management from hospitals to the home.
The project, titled Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC), seeks to provide continuous, real-time monitoring for conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. Unlike traditional ultrasound scans that require bulky machinery and hospital visits, the wearable device would allow for personalized, ongoing diagnosis as patients go about their daily lives.
The initiative is led by the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) research enterprise in Singapore. It brings together a consortium of experts from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and clinicians from Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
“This shift from reactive, hospital-based care to preventative, community and home-based care could enable earlier detection and timely intervention,” the group said in a statement.
To support the development of the high-tech medical grade sensors, the project is using Southeast Asia’s first Nanoscribe Quantum X—a sub-micrometre 3D printer capable of creating microscopic components—alongside Singapore’s most advanced Verasonics ultrasonic imaging system.
The multi-year project targets the growing “silver economy” and the global push toward decentralized healthcare. By moving away from “occasional snapshots” of a patient’s health, researchers believe the wearable technology can provide the granular data necessary for truly personalized medicine.
WITEC marks a pioneering effort in wearable technology, medical imaging, research and materials science. It is Singapore’s first centre dedicated to foundational research and development of the world’s first wearable ultrasound imaging system capable of 48-hour intermittent cardiovascular imaging for continuous and real-time monitoring and diagnosis of chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.
“Addressing society’s most pressing challenges requires innovative, interdisciplinary thinking. Building on SMART’s long legacy in Singapore as a hub for research and innovation, WITEC will harness interdisciplinary expertise – from MIT and leading institutions in Singapore – to advance transformative research that creates real-world impact and benefits Singapore, the US and societies all over. This is the kind of collaborative research that not only pushes the boundaries of knowledge, but also redefines what is possible for the future of healthcare,” said Bruce Tidor, SMART chief executive officer and interim director.
Medical care through wearables
Chronic diseases are rising rapidly in Singapore and globally, especially among the ageing population and individuals with multiple long-term conditions. This trend highlights the urgent need for effective home based care and easy-to-use monitoring tools that go beyond basic wellness tracking.
Current consumer wearables, such as smartwatches and fitness bands, offer limited physiological data like heart rate or step count. While useful for general health, they lack the depth needed to support chronic disease management. Traditional ultrasound systems, though clinically powerful, are bulky, operator-dependent, can only be deployed episodically within the hospitals, and are limited to snapshots in time — making them unsuitable for long-term, everyday use.
WITEC aims to bridge this gap with its wearable ultrasound imaging system that uses bioadhesive technology to enable up to 48 hours of uninterrupted imaging. Combined with AI-enhanced diagnostics, the innovation is aimed at supporting early detection, home-based pre-diagnosis and continuous monitoring of chronic diseases.
Beyond improving patient outcomes, this innovation could help ease labour shortages by freeing up ultrasound operators, nurses and doctors to focus on more complex care, while reducing demand for hospital beds and resources.
By shifting monitoring to homes and communities, WITEC’s technology will enable patient self-management and timely intervention, potentially lowering healthcare costs and alleviating the increasing financial and manpower pressures of an ageing population.
“We’re extremely proud to bring together an exceptional team of researchers from Singapore and the US to pioneer core technologies that will make wearable ultrasound imaging a reality. This endeavour combines deep expertise in materials science, data science, AI diagnostics, biomedical engineering and clinical medicine. Our phased approach will accelerate translation into a fully wearable platform that reshapes how chronic diseases are monitored, diagnosed and managed,” said Prof Xuanhe Zhao, co-Lead principal investigator, WITEC.
“Our research into a wearable ultrasound imaging system aims to transform daily care for those living with cardiovascular and other chronic conditions – providing clinicians with richer, continuous insights to guide treatment, while giving patients greater confidence and control over their own health. WITEC’s pioneering work marks an important step towards shifting care from episodic, hospital-based interventions to more proactive, everyday management in the community,” said Prof Joseph Sung, co‑lead principal investigator, WITEC.
The clinical trials are expected to commence in early 2026 to validate long-term heart monitoring in the management of chronic cardiovascular disease. Over the next three years, WITEC aims to develop a cart-based bioadhesive ultrasound (BAUS) system capable of continuous, real-time monitoring and personalised diagnosis of medical conditions. In future stages, WITEC aims to develop a fully integrated portable BAUS platform capable of 48-hour intermittent imaging.
