CARDIOWATCH: EARLY DETECTION USING WEARABLE ULTRASOUND

Abstract for the project work:

The project focuses on the development of a novel wearable ultrasound device for the
early detection of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) through routine monitoring of the carotid
arteries. Utilizing B-mode ultrasound technology, the device aims to monitor intima-media
thickness (IMT), a proven indicator of CVD, in an easy-to-use and cost-effective manner. The
proposed system includes hardware components integrated into a neck brace-like structure, with
ultrasonic transducer array probes for image acquisition and an image processing algorithm for
analysing ultrasound images to detect plaque build-up in the carotid artery. By quantifying
biomarkers such as lumen diameter, the algorithm can predict atherosclerosis and CVD, enabling
early detection and intervention. The project's innovative approach offers a portable, non-
invasive, and economical solution for point-of-care monitoring and autonomous anomaly
detection, potentially revolutionizing the early prediction, diagnosis, and monitoring of CVDs
and related conditions.
Literature survey:
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V. Nambi et al., “Carotid intima-media thickness and presence or absence of plaque
improves prediction of coronary heart disease risk”, evaluated the impact of adding carotid
intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque information to traditional risk factors in predicting
coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The results showed that incorporating CIMT and plaque data
improved CHD risk prediction, especially in the intermediate risk groups. The addition of plaque
information had a more significant effect on improving risk prediction in women compared to
men. Overall, the study suggests that CIMT and plaque assessment can enhance CHD risk
prediction and should be considered in clinical practice for individuals with intermediate risk.
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Tomohisa Nezu et al., “Carotid Intima-Media Thickness for Atherosclerosis”, in this
article authors discussed about the assessment of CVDs form the CIMT. This article discusses
the use of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Previously, increased IMT was considered a strong predictor of future heart attacks and
strokes. It was easy and non-invasive to measure, making it widely used. Studies even showed
that lowering IMT through medication seemed to benefit patients. While increased IMT is still
linked to CVD, it may not be the best predictor of future events. Decreasing IMT with
medication didn't necessarily translate to fewer heart attacks. Additionally, other factors like the
presence and characteristics of plaque buildup in the carotid artery might be more important.
Current guidelines don't recommend routine IMT measurement for initial CVD risk assessment.
Carotid IMT and the plaque formation adds more weight to the presence of CVDs rather than
accounting the IMT alone.
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Apostolopoulos, T., et al., "Ultrasound-Based Image Analysis for Predicting Carotid
Artery Stenosis Risk: Problem, Techniques, Datasets, and Future Directions." in this article
Extracting the region of interest (ROI) from US images is crucial. Techniques include active
contours, level sets, and thresholding methods. In Feature Extraction: Geometric features like
lumen and plaque area, intima-media thickness (IMT), and wall thickness-to- lumen ratio
(WT/LR) are extracted to quantify arterial morphology. Additionally, texture features can capture
plaque composition. Supervised learning algorithms like Support Vector Machines (SVM) and
Random Forests can be trained on labeled data to classify images as normal or stenotic. Deep
learning models, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), are increasingly used for
automated feature extraction and classification due to their ability to learn complex relationships
from large datasets.

WORKFLOW:

WORK PLAN (role of each member):

1. Hardware Development and Integration:
Person A: Responsible for designing and implementing the hardware components of the
wearable imaging system, including the transducer, transmit/receive circuitry, and power module.
Person B: Focuses on integrating the hardware components into a functional prototype, ensuring
proper assembly and functionality of the device.
2. Algorithm Development and Image Processing:
Person C: Leads the development of the efficient algorithm for predicting IMT anomalies from
ultrasound images, including image analysis and plaque detection algorithms.
Person A and Person B: Collaborate with Person C to provide input on hardware requirements
for efficient algorithm execution and integration of the algorithm into the device.
3. Testing and Validation:
All team members: Collaborate on testing the wearable ultrasound device prototype, conducting
validation studies to ensure accurate detection of IMT anomalies and plaque build-up.
Person B: Responsible for coordinating user testing and feedback collection to iterate on the
design and functionality of the device.