Reduced aortic stiffness is a powerful way to predict the outcome of cardiovascular (CV) disease. There are several non invasive methods for its estimation, most of which are based on the measurement of speed of the arterial pulse wave. (The stiffer the artery, the faster the pulse wave travels.) They rely on detecting the arterial pulse with 2 sensors placed on the skin a known distance apart and measuring the time for the pulse to travel between them. However all current methods require skilled operators and are of limited accuracy. Thus, there is a need for an easy to use and reliable device to measure pulse speed. The aim of this project is to develop a non contact device to detect the aortic pulse as it moves into the small arteries following the ribs, using the principle of thermal imaging, by means of a high sensitivity infra red camera, directed towards the subjects back. The investigators plan to validate the device and conduct a small feasibility study in patients undergoing elective angiography, by simultaneously measuring pulse speed using established methods. These are Doppler ultrasound (non-invasive) and direct intra-arterial measurement (the gold standard).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
London Chest Hospital
London, London, United Kingdom
Quantitative agreement between intra-arterial measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity and transcutaneous values: a) Contact PPG from probes on the skin of the back in the intercostal spaces and b) non-contact from infra-red camera imaging the back.
Time frame: Single measurement to be made between January 2010 and June 2010
Assessment of differences in aPWV and between low and high risk groups of patients undergoing elective coronary angiography.
Time frame: Single measurement to be made between January 2010 and June 2010
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.