Novel Tele-Robotic Cardiovascular Ultrasound Imaging Trial Planned Between New York and Chicago

A new clinical trial between the Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS; New York, NY, USA) and the Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL, USA) will test the feasibility of carrying out tele-robotic, long-distance ultrasound examinations over the Internet.

The study, a research collaboration between cardiovascular imaging specialists at the two locations, and will test the feasibility and efficiency of physicians in New York City remotely performing ultrasound examinations on patients in Chicago, over the internet. The study has enrolled 100 patients, over the age of 60, and involves the use of a small, robotic arm fitted with an ultrasound device, and connected to the Internet.

The Tele-Robotic Ultrasound for Distance Imaging (TRUDI) technology was developed by Dr. Jeff Soble, MD and Sarah Doherty TeleHealthRobotics (Chicago, IL, USA). The robotic arm is controlled remotely by a cardiovascular specialist at Mount Sinai, who can complete a carotid artery scan in four minutes. The patients will also each undergo a manual ultrasound exam locally, in the Rush Medical Center.

The aim of the research team is to test whether remote, tele-robotic ultrasound exams of the carotid artery in the neck, intended to find thickening of the carotid intima-media and carotid atherosclerotic plaque, can be as efficient as traditional manual ultrasound exams. Both conditions are risk factors for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events.

Rami Doukky, MD, MSc, principal investigator of the study at Rush Medical, said, “Imaging technology is evolving at a rapid pace. If this tele-health breakthrough proves feasible and successful it may open the door for more accessible screening, prevention, and diagnostic capabilities for patients who may be at high-risk for cardiovascular diseases.”

Related Links:
Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine 
Rush University Medical Center
TeleHealthRobotics