The patch measures about 20 × 47 × 3 mm. At its core is an ultra‑thin silicon cantilever, suspended a micron above the frame, which picks up the faint mechanical vibrations that travel through the skin.

The sensor operates from 0.2 Hz up to more than 10 kHz, so it records pulse waves, heart sounds, breathing patterns and vocal‑cord vibrations all at once.

The team published the results in June in Nature Communications, listing UNSW doctoral candidate Tran Bach Dang as the first author.

Associate Professor Phan Hoang Phuong, a Vietnamese engineer with a background in automation, MEMS and soft electronics, leads the project. He says his father’s illness in 2004 pushed him to become an engineer who could help families.

Phuong’s training spans automation, micro‑electromechanical systems and flexible electronics. By combining semiconductor technology with soft polymer substrates, his group created a flexible sensor that sticks to the chest and transmits data for remote review without irritating the skin.

Human trials are now under way with roughly 200 patients who have heart‑valve disease. The researchers plan larger studies and expect a medical‑grade version of the AusculPatch to be ready in four to five years.

The work is being done at UNSW, which the 2027 QS World University Rankings placed 19th globally and first in Australia, highlighting the university’s strong research environment.