Oxford team develops UPatch for safer fetal monitoring

Researchers led by the University of Oxford have developed the device, which can monitor a baby’s health by monitoring blood flow throughout pregnancy.

The technology could allow expectant mothers to be monitored over long periods while going about their daily lives, potentially providing earlier warning of complications such as stillbirth.

Professor Antoniya Georgieva, senior author of the study and founder of Safer Birth Ltd, said: “Babies in the womb still cannot be monitored reliably, which is a major gap in maternity care worldwide, with huge implications. Solutions are needed urgently.

“The UPatch technology opens the possibility of monitoring the most important signals of fetal health over much longer periods, gain essential new knowledge of how babies’ oxygen supply and wellbeing adapt inside the womb, and ultimately helping clinicians identify problems earlier.

“We thank all members of the wider team for their hard work on this project, and we are particularly grateful to the wonderful pregnant volunteers who made this incredible achievement possible.”

The UPatch, a soft, wearable patch, sits on the abdomen and uses ultrasound to capture fetal anatomy and blood flow over time.

Unlike traditional ultrasounds that provide only a snapshot, the patch collects continuous data without requiring an expert sonographer.

Originally designed for monitoring blood pressure in immobile adult patients in intensive care, the patch was adapted for use in pregnancy – a challenge due to the movement of both mother and baby.

The device was tested in 62 pregnancies and showed strong agreement with standard clinical ultrasound measurements.

Continuous monitoring sessions of one to six hours were conducted in 52 women, including those with pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and poor fetal growth.

In one case involving severe pre-eclampsia, the patch detected concerning changes in fetal blood flow, prompting increased monitoring and a caesarean delivery four days later.

Professor Sheng Xu, senior author and engineer, now based at Stanford University, said: “This work shows how advances in soft electronics, ultrasound engineering, and clinical science can come together to address one of the most important unmet needs in pregnancy care.”

The device could help clinicians distinguish between short-term fluctuations and persistent signs of fetal distress, enabling earlier intervention while reducing unnecessary hospital visits and scans.

Dr Tom Park, first author and main engineer of the UPatch, said: “This technology could expand access to prenatal imaging in healthcare deserts and low-resource settings, where shortages of trained sonographers often delay care for high-risk pregnancies.”

The study was published in Nature Biotechnology.