ThrombUS+: Wearable Continuous Point-of-Care Monitoring, Risk Estimation and Prevention for Deep Vein Thrombosis

Summary:

At the beginning of 2024, the international project „ThrombUS+“ of the European Union (EU) research and innovation program „Horizon Europe“ was launched, the value of which is 9.5 million. euros. Eighteen partners from Europe and the United States are participating in the project, whose goal is to create an innovative diagnostic device worn on the body, which would enable continuous, direct, non-professional monitoring of the condition of deep veins and warning of developing thrombosis.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot within the deep veins, most commonly those of the lower limbs, causing obstruction of blood flow. In 50% of people with DVT, the clot eventually breaks off and travels to the lung to cause pulmonary embolism. DVT, not diagnosed in time, is characterized by a high health risk and a danger to life. The fact that often (up to two-thirds of cases) DVT does not cause any symptoms is particularly worrying and complicates early diagnosis.

The ThrombUS+ project aims to help solve this problem by introducing a user-friendly and affordable technological solution to warn of the development of DVT. During the “ThrombUS+” project, an interdisciplinary team of experts aims to solve the problem of diagnostics and prevention by using a wearable device-system that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze the data recorded by ultrasound, bioimpedance plethysmography and light reflection rheography sensors.

The clinical, technical and legal control knowledge gained during the ThrombUS+ project will be used in the future to create new market access opportunities for medical devices based on complex artificial intelligence solutions.

The ThrombUS+ project plans to create a body-worn ultrasound sensor that would not only continuously provide visual information about the condition of blood vessels in the lower extremities, but also take tissue compression samples with the help of innovative technological solutions to help capture DVT. The ThrombUS+ project could be a significant breakthrough in medical diagnostics and ultrasound applications. The project lays the foundations for a new stage in the development of diagnostics, where artificial intelligence together with technological solutions that are easily transported or even worn on the body will significantly reduce the workload of healthcare professionals, and the diagnosis of pathological conditions will become a continuous and autonomous process.

Scheduled to run for 42 months, the ThrombUS+ project will leverage big data sets collected through three large-scale clinical studies for artificial intelligence training. Validation will be carried out in clinical settings through one early feasibility study and one multi-center clinical trial.

The latest information about the project’s activities can be found by following the project’s social media channels „X“ and „LinkedIn“.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Moments from the international project scientists and researchers meeting held on May 14–15, 2024 at the LSMU Emanuelis Levinas Center in Kaunas: