Ubiquitous ultrasound imaging - CIUS - Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions
WP6: Ubiquitous ultrasound imaging
Pocket-sized ultrasound devices like the VScan (GE Vingmed) are extremely portable, and can increase the use of ultrasound imaging as part of the diagnostics of patients in rural district hospitals to nursing homes in the Western world. Development of easy-to-use ultrasound technology has significant innovation potential and can be paradigm altering for practices in the health care sector, where the goal is to offer patients quicker diagnoses outside hospitals as well as avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. This work package covers research needed to develop and test ultrasound technology for imaging of multiple organs to increase the usefulness in different clinical scenarios, and automatic measurements of relevant physiological parameters to aid non-expert users. This is of importance for the patients and health care partners, and for the industrial partner GE Vingmed Ultrasound.
Main research topics:
WP6-1: Multi–Purpose ultrasound imaging for non-experts
Technical development and clinical feasibility of using automated methods for navigational aid and (semi)automatic measurements (e.g. organ size, displacements). Methods will be adapted for non-expert personnel, but will also find use in high-end systems when successful.
WP6-2: Clinical benefit of use of pocket-sized ultrasound imaging in nursing homes
This project will evaluate the clinical benefit of automated detection of dehydration, fluid retention and urine bladder volume by pocket-sized ultrasound in a nursing home. This is common but difficult to assess clinically and can be treated at the point of care instead of hospitalisation. This project has also relevance to low-to-middle income countries were dehydration and haemorrhage is a leading cause of mortality among children and women.
WP6-3: Automatic detection of signs of Rheumatic heart disease
Approximately 8 mill children worldwide are affected by rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. These are conditions that lead to significant valvular regurgitation and stenosis. This project will evaluate pocket-sized ultrasound for screening of children in Nepal, Australia or other country with high incidence of infectious valvular disease.
Contact
Head of WP6: Ubiquitous ultrasound imaging
- Ole Christian Mjølstad, NTNU/St. Olavs hospital