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Point-of-Care Carotid Ultrasound and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Device

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R41HL116005-01A1
Agency Tracking Number: R41HL116005
Amount: $198,831.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: NHLBI
Solicitation Number: PA12-089
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
6080 CRANE RD
YPSILANTI, MI 48197-9029
United States
DUNS: 965502474
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 WILLIAM WEITZEL
 (734) 615-3994
 rickweitzel@comcast.net
Business Contact
 CHERYL WEITXEL
Phone: (734) 645-5896
Email: camweitzel@comcast.net
Research Institution
 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
 
University Of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MI 48109-
United States

 () -
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes a novel, low-cost, high-performance compact carotid ultrasound imaging system to meet the clinical point-of-care needs for stenosis assessment based upon consensus practice criteria guidelines. At the same time, this system will meet the growing need for advanced cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment. This research integrates proven fundamental techniques with modern technology. The proposed device revisits standard ultrasound measurement techniques, but significantly improves on them. These improvements are achieved by using an innovative engineering design, accurate track and hold front-end, low-cost analog to digital converters, and an innovative electro-magnetic transducer drive system and distributed signal processing architecture to realize a high performance carotid imager at low manufacturing cost. Building upon the success of an NIH sponsored translational research project to make an ultrasound smart sensor (NHLBI grant 5RC1HL101881, WilliamWeitzel, PI) and leveraging our proprietary radiofrequency (RF) ultrasound speckle tracking algorithms, we will develop application specific 3D measurement tools for the carotid artery. We leverage modern, miniaturized reconfigurable electronic componentsand high bandwidth wireless technology, to integrate low-level ultrasound signal generation, acquisition and pre-processing in the transducer-display module and then distribute (remotely perform) the higher-level signal processing, image construction and image processing. We build upon our current system hardware architecture to: 1) extend data acquisition into 3D meeting the point-of-care needs for carotid stenosis assessment, 2) develop server side system algorithms for improved operator independent measurements of stenosis using advanced signal processing and RF tracking, and 3) expand diagnostic capabilities for CV risk assessment by leveraging our technical advantages for accurately measuring carotid distensability using our innovative platform.PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal describes a novel, low-cost, high-performance carotid ultrasound imaging system. The system will meet the clinical point-of-care needs for stenosis assessment based upon consensus clinicalguidelines and also use advanced ultrasound signal processing techniques to perform measurements for cardiovascular risk assessment.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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