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BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena

RescueDoppler - a disruptive ultrasound solution for improved outcome after cardiac arrest.

Alternative title: RescueDoppler - en banebrytende ultralydteknologi for å øke overlevelse ved hjertestans

Awarded: NOK 16.0 mill.

Project Number:

332205

Project Period:

2022 - 2025

Funding received from:

In Norway, 3635 people outside hospitals were tried to be revived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in 2022, and only 14% survived more than 30 days. In the event of cardiac arrest, it must be clarified within seconds whether there are signs of life. One method is to feel the pulse with the fingers, which can be time-consuming, uncertain, and challenging. In case of cardiac arrest, there will be no palpable pulse. One can misinterpret the pulse sensation as having a pulse, thus delaying CPR. The least possible interruption in cardiac compressions is crucial for effective CPR. Chest compression must stop during pulse check. Every second without chest compression is unfortunate, but even a weak pulse is essential to detect as CPR is performed differently depending on the presence of a pulse. A reliable method of detecting pulse is therefore vital. A defibrillator should be connected to the patient in cardiac arrest as soon as possible. It provides information about the patient's electrical activity but not blood flow. New ultrasound technology has led to a method for measuring continuous blood flow during CPR, RescueDoppler. The probe attaches to the patient's neck as a patch. The study's primary goal is to develop a RescueDoppler system for patients and test function and clinical utility in resuscitation after cardiac arrest both outside hospitals (at prehospital clinic Nordland Hospital) in a pilot study and hospitals in a multicenter study. The multicenter study will include cardiac arrests for one year at the following hospitals; Oslo University Hospital (Ullevål and Rikshospitalet), Akershus University Hospital, St Olavs Hospital, and Stavanger Hospital and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The sub-goal is to evaluate whether the RescueDoppler can be placed correctly by health professionals to record signals from the main artery, provide feedback on the quality of breast compression, and detect spontaneous circulation.

An estimated global annual incidence of death from cardiac arrest is 7-8 million cases per year, and cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in industrialized countries. Survival following cardiac arrest is only 10% or less, and survival dramatically decreases for every minute that passes without advanced life support. This project aims to develop RescueDoppler - a new solution for improved outcomes after cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest depends on restoring normal electrical activity in the heart and adequate blood flow to vital organs. Presently, however, only information about the heart's electrical activity, but not blood flow, is available during resuscitation. Although defibrillators can detect, treat, and give feedback on the reappearance of normal cardiac rhythm, crucial feedback regarding the successful restoration of blood flow to the brain is missing. Consequently, there is a need for a simple tool to assess blood flow after cardiac arrest. Cardiac ultrasound has proven to give valuable additional information during the treatment of cardiac arrest. However, Doppler measurements of blood flow in the carotid artery can be performed without interrupting resuscitation, making it an attractive alternative for hemodynamically guided resuscitation. RescueDoppler is a new and proprietary solution for monitoring blood flow in the carotid artery in patients suffering from cardiac arrest. The system includes a small and lightweight ultrasound probe, a fastening device for attaching the probe to the neck, and proprietary software for signal analysis. The technology is operator-independent and does not require ultrasound expertise. The project's primary objective is to document the feasibility and clinical usefulness of RescueDoppler in patients with sudden cardiac arrest. Long-term goals are to offer RescueDoppler as an integrated OEM product in defibrillators from leading global manufacturers.

Funding scheme:

BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena