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Portable Ultrasound Equipment improves patient access at the point of care
Invention Summary:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in more than 600,000 deaths. Over 28 million Americans are diagnosed with heart disease and contribute more than $30 billion in healthcare-related expenses. Many patients who experience a heart attack do not undergo cardiac imaging and have a higher risk of adverse events, including another cardiovascular incident. Though the emergence of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) enables wider access to imaging, reduced image resolution limits its replacement of ECG.
Researchers at Rutgers University are developing a platform utilizing POCUS and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict event risk using specific disease-associated phenotypes. The platform obtains images from the Pocket Ultrasound and processes these using artificial intelligence (AI) to reconstruct the images with a similar quality to ECG. Its AI engine facilitates precise phenotyping and detection of numerous cardiac abnormalities and severe events. Next, the platform utilizes data from mHealth applications (demographics, patient history, ECG, etc.) to help define risk for patients who have recently experienced a severe cardiac event.
Market Applications:
- Portable ultrasound equipment used in hospitals and out-patient facilities
- EHR (Electronic Health Records) and PAC (Picture Archiving and Communication) systems
Advantages:
- Facilitates precise phenotyping and detection of multiple cardiac abnormalities and serious events.
- Does not require bulky ultrasound equipment as it is controlled by a small device and a smartphone/tablet.
- May prevent subsequent adverse cardiac events and reduce the high mortality rate of cardiovascular disease.
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships contact: marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu
