[TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY 2006-009]

DETECTS – Software for Quantifying Circulatory Emboli

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Researchers at Queen’s University have developed DETECTS (Detection of Emboli using
Trans-esophageal Echocardiography for Counting, Total volume, and Size estimation)
DETECTS easily retrofits to existing hardware, contributes to reduced post-
operative mortality and neurological dysfunction, and provides a quantitative
tool for the development of surgical standards for emboli measurement during open heart
surgery.

Description:
DETECTS extends the functionality of existing ultrasound systems to influence and improve
the patient outcome of open-heart surgery. The software accurately measures flow rates of
emboli in the ascending aorta while simultaneously providing quantitative data on size, volume
and count.

Interfacing with existing trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) hardware, DETECTS
employs a unique algorithm to detect and quantify emboli in the ascending aorta. This on-line,
real-time information gives physicians the ability to objectively gauge emboli-content status of a
patient’s circulatory system as it is being weaned from the pulmonary bypass system. This
permits, for the first time, specification of standards for air and solid emboli removal in the
closing stages of cardiac surgery.

How does it work?
DETECTS interprets the two-dimensional images obtained from the TEE and analyses them for the presence and quantities of emboli. DETECTS is designed as an easy add-on to existing ultrasound hardware, sensing all emboli passing through the plane of the TEE image – data describing the count, volume total, and size distribution. As the software utilizes two-dimensional TEE data, DETECTS is vastly superior to existing trans-cranial Doppler (TCD) emboli quantification methods. An additional benefit is that DETECTS cannot be overloaded by large quantities of emboli, a typical issue with existing TCD technology.

Status of Commercialization:
PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer arm of Queen’s University, is seeking industrial
partners who are willing to support on-going development of the product and/or who are interested
in licensing the intellectual property.

Contact:
Randall North
Associate Director, Commercial Development
Phone: (613) 533-2342 FAX: (613) 533-6853
E-mail: rnorth@parteqinnovations.com
Ref Tech ID 2006-009