720663Development of a 4Mhz suprasternal Doppler probe for cardiac output measurementClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKThe accurate measurement of Cardiac Output (CO), the volume of blood pumped/min, is critical for clinicians to assess cardiovascular function & fluid status. Several invasive & non invasive techniques are currently available to determine CO; however these possess limitations with accuracy & suitability for use in all patient types. Deltex Medical (Deltex) currently manufactures a leading technology to assess CO using a 4MHz ultrasound Oesophageal Doppler Monitor (ODM). The technology is highly precise & has been widely demonstrated to improve patient outcome. However the probe is placed into the oesophagus which can initiate a ‘gag reflex’. The oesophageal probe is therefore not well tolerated in awake patients. To address this issue, Deltex aims to develop a non invasive CO measurement system based on Doppler ultrasound that can be applied non-invasively at the suprasternal notch. Such an approach has been adopted previously by both Deltex & a competitor (USCOM) using a reusable probe, resulting in issues with product sterility & high capital costs (see innovation question). Therefore, Deltex intends to develop the suprasternal ultrasound technique using a disposable 4 MHz probe. This has the major added advantage of being compatible with the company’s existing installed monitor base. The technology will initially be targeted towards the Enhanced Recovery Programme used in surgery, & in intensive care, where success will reduce the length of hospital stay & associated healthcare costs, & then extend CO measurement for use in new departments (e.g. cardiology, A&E, sports medicine, etc.). To date, Deltex has undertaken a pilot study to identify the optimal Doppler frequency, anatomical targets & begin verification of technical parameters such as head size & signal resolution. With the intended development of the pre-production prototype & a clinical trial, Deltex expects accumulated sales of at least £10M over 5yrs.