Wearable Ultrasound Devices for Blood Pressure Measurement: A Simulation Study

High blood pressure poses a significant risk for stroke, heart disease, and heart attacks, contributing to 5 million stroke-related deaths and disabilities annually worldwide. Individuals over 70 face a 75% likelihood of high blood pressure, underscoring the need for real-time monitoring to mitigate these risks. While traditional methods like blood pressure cuffs and ECG machines are effective, they lack practicality for continuous monitoring. A wearable ultrasound device, recently developed by researchers, offers a portable solution. Using an ultrasound array, it measures blood pressure by analyzing blood vessel distances, ensuring 24-hour monitoring capability. The device employs ultrasound penetration and a 4x4 piezoelectric element grid, providing accurate measurements up to a certain depth. In our previous work, the device's design has been digitized by a simulation program based on k-wave ultrasound simulation, which provided potentials to maximize signal-to-noise ratio and thus sensitivity. In this work, a genetic algorithm was developed in the simulation program to optimize array distribution sensitivity. Genetic algorithms mimic natural selection, aligning sensor positions and evaluating their effectiveness through numerous iterations. It was realised in the simulation program by setting ultrasound array distribution as binary vectors that were fed into the genetic algorithm. As a result, the sensitivity of the ultrasound device was enhanced after 3000 iterations of optimisation. This research represents a significant advancement in real-time blood pressure monitoring, offering a practical, low-cost solution for optimising wearable ultrasound device and thus mitigating health risks associated with high blood pressure.