Wearable patch matched artery signals with high accuracy

In experiments with 110 participants, researchers tested Hygieia, a wearable patch for tracking signals from the carotid artery in the neck. The patch used electromagnetic sensing. An air gap inside its sensor converted artery-related skin vibrations into changes in a measured frequency. This design avoided calibration for each person.

The researchers built the patch and its readout hardware from low-cost, widely available components. They used signal-processing methods to reconstruct detailed waveforms—traces of how signals changed over time—from noisy measurements. The patch achieved 96.14% waveform similarity to medical-grade equipment. Across timing-based measures, the average size of errors was below 0.04 seconds. The results supported its potential for continuous monitoring.