Vietnamese engineer at Australia's top university develops heart-listening patch

A Vietnamese engineer at Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW), Tran Bach Dang, has developed an innovative listening patch called AusculPatch that captures subtle vibrations from the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The device holds promise for remote healthcare applications. The device, measuring approximately 20 by 47 by 3 millimeters, features an ultra-thin silicon cantilever at its center. This cantilever, separated from its frame by a micron-wide air gap, picks up faint mechanical vibrations traveling through the skin from the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. A coin cell battery and an integrated chip convert these vibrations into a readout that doctors can review remotely. The team described their work in the journal Nature Communications in June, with UNSW doctoral candidate Tran Bach Dang as the first author. The sensor reads across a band from 0.2 Hz to over 10 kHz, capturing pulse waves, heart sounds, breathing patterns, and vocal cord vibrations. "Our goal is to develop cheap but effective devices so that people can monitor their own health at home," said Associate Professor Phuong, a leading figure in the research. Phuong holds a Scientia Associate Professorship in UNSW's School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council since 2024. His group specializes in semiconductor devices including MEMS and NEMS, integrated sensors, and flexible electronics. UNSW ranked 19th globally and first in Australia in the 2027 QS World University Rankings. Phuong's academic journey began with early success in high school, leading to his admission to Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2004 to study automation. A family illness that year motivated him to pursue engineering to care for his family. He later received a full Japanese government scholarship and studied at the University of Tokyo, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. His postgraduate work focused on semiconductor sensors. Despite immense pressure, he noted the resilience of Vietnamese people. After completing his studies in Japan, he pursued a doctorate at Griffith University in Australia, focusing on sensors for harsh industrial environments. Inspired by observing patients tethered by cables, Phuong envisioned wireless and flexible medical devices. His work led to breakthroughs in transferring rigid silicon carbide onto soft substrates, enabling the development of flexible electronics. This research was published in ACS Nano and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Doctors collaborated with Phuong on the project, shifting his focus from internal implants to external wearable devices for individuals with heart conditions. The AusculPatch aims to replace traditional stethoscopes by sticking to the chest and transmitting data wirelessly. The team modeled the sensor to detect low-frequency heart sounds and developed a skin-friendly adhesive. In a separate demonstration, they trained a machine learning model on throat vibrations to recognize spoken words and control a robotic arm, a development that could aid individuals with speech disorders. Phuong is currently collaborating with St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney to gather data from approximately 200 patients with heart valve disease or using left ventricular assist devices. He estimates that a medical-grade version could be available in four to five years. Phuong also contributes to research on a soft micro-endoscopic robot designed for cancer detection and removal in tubular organs. He emphasizes the growing demand for remote healthcare and the potential for scalable production of materials like soft polymers. He also highlights the continued demand for hardware and semiconductor engineers, even with AI advancements, due to the complexity of hardware design and testing. "In the end, a solid foundation in semiconductors and physics, together with independent logical thinking rather than dependence on AI, is the key," Phuong stated. Source: VnExpress International