ECG coupled ultrasound cardiac imaging for the early detection of cardiovascular disease
Early detection of the symptoms of cardiovascular disease is essential for reducing the morbidity and mortality accompanying this disease. However, conventional cardiac imaging techniques suffer from poor image resolution or temporal resolution. This technology uses ultrasound synchronized with electrocardiogram readings to image the pulse wave velocity from a cardiac contraction and determine the stiffness of cardiac tissue -- one of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease. This technology is able to monitor the transient movement of cardiovascular tissue occurring within a single cardiac cycle, thereby achieving a temporal resolution much higher than existing technologies. As such, this technology provides a high resolution method to assess the mechanical properties of cardiovascular tissue, potentially offering a more sensitive diagnostic test for cardiovascular disease.
High image resolution and temporal resolution provide a quantitative assessment of cardiovascular tissue stiffness
This technology determines tissue elasticity by achieving the difficult task of measuring tissue movements over the course of a single cardiac cycle of contraction and relaxation. These tissue movements, which last approximately 1 millisecond, have not been able to be imaged by other technologies. This technology is able to reach such high temporal resolution by synchronizing ECG with ultrasound images acquired at 8,000 frames per second. The technology is able to measure tissue movements as small as a single micron without being perturbed by larger movements such as breathing. As such this technology may be employed as a quantitative diagnostic tool to determine cardiovascular tissue stiffness
This technology has been used to monitor mouse hearts and was validated in a mouse model of aortic aneurism and cardiovascular disease.
Lead Inventor:
Applications:
- Monitoring and imaging heart contractions
- Imaging wave propagation through other cardiac tissues such as arteries
- Determination of elastic properties of cardiac tissue
- Diagnosis of diseases causing tissue hardening, such as cardiovascular disease
Advantages:
- Utilizes ultrasound imaging and electrocardiogram readings
- High resolution allows imaging of events occurring within 1 millisecond
- Sensitively detects tissue hardening, allowing for earlier detection of cardiovascular disease
Patent information:
Tech Ventures Reference: IR 1963