![]() Imec’s flexible ultrasonic transducer technology, originally conceived by Dr. Though there are other big international players in the ultrasound space, such as Phillips and Siemens, the specific expertise and proprietary technology required to make this patch is unique to imec and KU Leuven. Powered by a unique partnershipĭeceptively simple, the Pulsify patch has nonetheless only been made possible through the collaboration between the high-tech powerhouse imec and imaging experts at KU Leuven. The whole system is a perfect example of digitalization of healthcare. These algorithms are optimized to extract the critical physiological parameters, in the most efficient fashion, before presenting the output to the health care professionals in a succinct manner. – Steve Stoffels, Pulsify MedicalĪ calculation of the cardiac output can then be done, with a monitor displaying a simple numerical readout (like with blood pressure or heart rate) for the doctors. The combination of imec’s technology and KU Leuven’s expertise is a world first. We need both the semi-conductor technology from imec and the smart software from KU Leuven. The microphone then picks up the echoes and uses a set of algorithms to build up a 3D picture of the heart in action. The soundwaves generated by the speaker penetrate the chest and reflect back from different tissues, including the heart muscle. The Pulsify patch is simple enough in principle: the basis is an array of ultrasound transducers, each consisting of essentially a speaker and a microphone, contained in a patch roughly the size of a postcard. This disruptive technology will be filling an unmet need in ICUs and hospitals across the world.” “The product we are developing will allow doctors in ICUs to quickly attach a patch to the patient’s chest and continuously monitor their cardiac output. Iwan Van Vijfeijken, CEO of the start-up, explained: This is where the Pulsify Medical patch can make a lifesaving difference. There is clearly a need for a better heart monitoring option. This method therefore is not practical in an emergency setting like the ICU. It involves using a probe, the same way as when examining a fetus during pregnancy, meaning that a well trained professional needs to be present at all times, to position the probe and interpret the results. Traditional ultrasound is a far less invasive alternative but doesn’t allow for continuous monitoring. The product we are developing… will be filling an unmet need in ICUs and hospitals across the world. For continuous monitoring, doctors can either insert a catheter intravenously, a risky and time-consuming procedure, or they can insert a probe via the esophagus, which is less invasive but highly uncomfortable for the patient. This is a measure of the volume of blood being pumped by the heart, usually denoted in liters per minute (L/min).ĭespite the importance of the measurement, current methods for obtaining the cardiac output come with serious drawbacks. Obtaining a fast, accurate readout of physiological parameters can make the difference between life and death in emergency situations.Īlong with basic heart rate and blood pressure, another important indicator of the heart’s performance is its cardiac output. One of the first things the medical staff will do is check the patient’s vital signs, such as their pulse, breathing and blood pressure. When a patient is rushed into the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital, every second counts. The investment, led by imec.xpand and KU Leuven, will be used to develop a wearable ultrasound patch to non-invasively monitor organs like the heart. Pulsify Medical, a joint imec and KU Leuven spin-off, has closed a seed funding round of €2.6 million.
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