ULTRASOUND SCANNER FOR COVID-19 DETECTION AND MONITORING
Specially designed for pandemic conditions and high-pressure medical care
This is the first ultrasound scanner dedicated to lung pathologies and will be developed entirely in Spain. The proposal has the support of CDTI for the extraordinary aid to R&D projects to address the health emergency COVID19.
Through interactive artificial intelligence tools that simplify the performance of the examination and the interpretation of the images, and a design oriented to the operation in high-risk conditions (easy disinfection, ergonomics, etc.), the purpose is to extend lung ultrasound to a greater number of professionals and services, from primary care to intensive care.
This development is led by DASEL SL, a Madrid-based SME specialized in Ultrasound technology. The Institute of Physical and Information Technologies of CSIC and the Nuclear Physics Group of the Complutense University of Madrid (GFN-UCM) are also participating. They will contribute their knowledge and experience in ultrasonic image processing and artificial intelligence. Both centers have been working since the beginning of the pandemic in the development of diagnostic aid technology with very promising results, based on very solid and contrasted previous knowledge in other fields. The participation of the emergency ultrasound department of the Universitario La Paz Hospital guarantees the medical perspective in all the stages of the development of the ultrasound scanner.
The project has a period of 18 months, and clinical trials of the prototype are planned to begin in early 2021.
OUR IMPACT
The impact on the capacity of the healthcare system for the care of COVID-19 patients would be very positive, since it is a very specific tool for the evaluation of pulmonary condition at all stages of the disease, including potential chronic problems in the medium and long term. In addition, it would be useful for the diagnosis and care of patients with other potentially serious lung pathologies in certain groups (pediatric patients, pregnant women, etc.).
ULTRACOV HAS BEEN PARTIALLY FUNDED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CALL FOR GRANTS FOR R&D AND INVESTMENT PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE COVID-19 DISEASE.
COI-20201153 ULTRACOV: ULTRASOUND SCANNER DESIGNED FOR EARLY DETECTION AND MONITORING OF COVID-19 DISEASE.