Soft, stretchy ultrasound patch can continuously monitor blood flow in real time Engineers at the University of California San Diego developed a soft and stretchy ultrasound patch that can be worn on the skin to monitor blood flow through major arteries and veins deep inside a person's body. Knowing how fast and how much blood flows through a patient's blood vessels is important because it can help clinicians diagnose various cardiovascular conditions, including blood clots; heart valve problems; poor circulation in the limbs; or blockages in the arteries that could lead to strokes or heart attacks. The new ultrasound patch developed at UC San Diego can continuously monitor blood flow-;as well as blood pressure and heart function-;in real time. Wearing such a device could make it easier to identify cardiovascular problems early on.