Piezoelectric materials and devices have significant applications in healthcare.

Piezoelectric technology enables higher quality echographic images with improved resolution and penetration depth. It will produce miniature probes for intracavitary examinations, and improved Doppler blood flow measurements.

Piezoelectricity supports new imaging techniques which enable quantitative tissue characterisation and elasticity mapping. And it has benefits in therapies including ultrasonic surgery and localised drug delivery.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment is expected to benefit from development of piezoelectric materials and devices. This is already the case for prostate cancer, where piezoelectric imaging probes are used to detect, localise and evaluate the extension of tumours.

High power piezoelectric applicators are used to destroy the pathological tissues by ultrasonic surgery, and the imaging device monitors tissue destruction and verifies that the entire tumour has been treated.

Miniature sensors, associated with mobile telecommunications, will allow monitoring of chronic diseases without the need to keep the patient in hospital.

Cardiovascular diseases will benefit through miniature disposable probes to inspect and treat blood vessels and the inside of the heart.