Grant: Idea to Innovation
The University of Western Ontario
$121,527.00
2D/3D Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal Intervention System-Phase I
FY 2024-25
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 600 million people globally, with the majority being women. In North America, 1 in every 7 people are living with OA and experience pain and disability daily. As the population continues to grow older, there has been a marked increase in the incidence rate of OA, which presents a significant burden on the Canadian healthcare system. Data from the USA shows that the average direct cost per person is $11,000 USD and approximately a $10.3 billion USD loss of economic productivity per year. The cost in Canada is approximately a tenth of the USA's costs.Current OA diagnosis uses X-ray radiographs, but they cannot provide the comprehensive view of the joint required to assess joint health. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is limited due to its high cost and widespread inaccessibility. Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound is widely used, but it is highly variable and its use is time-consuming. Thus, there is an opportunity to provide an improved and potentially transformative tool for the management of OA, which has reached over $23 billion USD and is increasing yearly at a rate of 2.4%.
A team of researchers at Western University proposes to leverage a low-cost 3D ultrasound system they developed (2 hardware and 2 software patents issued) for imaging the joints of the hand and knee and extend its capability and market potential by developing an accurate needle tracking method for use during injections of corticosteroids for symptom relief and joint aspirations of fluid from the joint. The economic impact of the developed system will be realized through licensing of the technology and the associated patents to a Canadian company. The impact on patients and healthcare costs will be significant, as currently, patients are diagnosed too late to halt the progression of OA leading to surgery. With earlier diagnosis and improved management of OA using a low-cost imaging system, surgeries will be delayed (perhaps eliminated) reducing healthcare costs and patients' pain will be better controlled.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
598168-2024
Name nom
Lalone, Emily EA
Department département
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
The University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2024
Award amount
121527
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
1901
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical technology
Research subject fr
Technologie biomédicale
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
2D/3D Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal Intervention System-Phase I
Keywords
3dus; advanced medical imaging; biomedical engineering design; carpometacarpal; hand and wrist; image-guided; injection; intervention; osteoathritis; ultrasound
Application summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 600 million people globally, with the majority being women. In North America, 1 in every 7 people are living with OA and experience pain and disability daily. As the population continues to grow older, there has been a marked increase in the incidence rate of OA, which presents a significant burden on the Canadian healthcare system. Data from the USA shows that the average direct cost per person is $11,000 USD and approximately a $10.3 billion USD loss of economic productivity per year. The cost in Canada is approximately a tenth of the USA's costs.Current OA diagnosis uses X-ray radiographs, but they cannot provide the comprehensive view of the joint required to assess joint health. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is limited due to its high cost and widespread inaccessibility. Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound is widely used, but it is highly variable and its use is time-consuming. Thus, there is an opportunity to provide an improved and potentially transformative tool for the management of OA, which has reached over $23 billion USD and is increasing yearly at a rate of 2.4%.
A team of researchers at Western University proposes to leverage a low-cost 3D ultrasound system they developed (2 hardware and 2 software patents issued) for imaging the joints of the hand and knee and extend its capability and market potential by developing an accurate needle tracking method for use during injections of corticosteroids for symptom relief and joint aspirations of fluid from the joint. The economic impact of the developed system will be realized through licensing of the technology and the associated patents to a Canadian company. The impact on patients and healthcare costs will be significant, as currently, patients are diagnosed too late to halt the progression of OA leading to surgery. With earlier diagnosis and improved management of OA using a low-cost imaging system, surgeries will be delayed (perhaps eliminated) reducing healthcare costs and patients' pain will be better controlled.
