The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has created an ultrasound sticker that can determine the stiffness of internal organs for early disease detection. This wearable sensor, which is approximately the size of a postage stamp, adheres to the skin and can detect signs of liver and kidney disease, as well as the progression of tumours. Due to the wearable nature of the product, changes in organ rigidity can be tracked over long periods, which is vital for the early detection of organ failure.

The successful launch of a product with these capabilities has the potential to change the hierarchy of the ultrasound imaging market, which was worth $6.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $7.3 billion in 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, according to leading data and analytics company GlobalData.

Ultrasound devices are one of the most used diagnostic device types due to their ease of use, low cost, lack of radiation and lack of any required invasive procedures. The implementation of an ultrasound device of this size and with its continuous monitoring abilities is sure to garner interest from the rest of the healthcare community.

The current market leaders for the ultrasound imaging market are GE with 15.4% of the market, Siemens with 14.8% of the market and Phillips with 13.4% of the market, according to GlobalData’s market models. While companies such as GE may not yet be focused on this technology, they may put some investment towards the development of a similar product in the future as the healthcare system begins to recognise the feasibility of the device.

The ultrasound imaging market has shown stable growth over time as it is used in the diagnosis of many common diseases. It is often the modality of choice for preliminary checks of those diseases. The accessibility of this type of imaging device has always been a major driver for its use and with the addition of a wearable ultrasound sensor to the market, there is a potential for widespread application of the device.