104864Observational study to understand and improve the human hand focussing of an Oesophageal Doppler probe.ClosedStudyInnovate UK"Deltex are pleased to announce that it has gained Innovate UK funding through a successful bid to the Design foundations round 1 2018 competition. Deltex is the world leader in Oesophageal Doppler ultrasound for haemodynamic monitoring. Use of the company's TrueVue Doppler, is proven to reduce the complications suffered by patients after surgery and is recommended by NICE. The system also saves hospitals the costs of treating complications that would otherwise result in increased lengths of stay. The minimally invasive TrueVue technology uses an ultrasound probe inserted into the patient's oesophagus (food pipe). The oesophagus lies close to the aorta in the patient's chest and so blood flow velocity can be measured much like a police speed camera checks a car's speed. In this case the moving objects are blood cells. The TrueVue system measures blood flow velocity and the timing of each heartbeat. TrueVue then calculates a range of parameters useful to clinicians in managing patient care and so minimising or even preventing post-operative complications. Clinician's achieve focus of the probe by feel, navigating using their knowledge of cardiovascular ultrasound signals. They have to find the optimum insertion depth and rotate the probe to find the correct signal quality. Deltex will use the grant monies to fund a study to understand how individual users insert and focus the ultrasound beam. The data obtained will help Deltex develop improvements in the probe's materials and packaging system to advance the probes handleability. The project will benefit clinicians and patients by leading to ease of use improvements. Deltex expects that the outcome will increase the range of uses of a medical device with already proven efficacy."