I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Wearable Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enabled Ultrasound Patch for Deep Vein Thrombosis Detection

Award ID: 2628969

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a wearable ultrasound monitoring system designed to provide continuous assessment of blood flow and vascular function in hospitalized patients. Delayed recognition of clinically significant physiological changes remains a major challenge across healthcare settings, contributing to preventable complications, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and adverse patient outcomes. Millions of patients each year are at risk for conditions that require frequent monitoring, yet current approaches often rely on intermittent assessments that may miss important changes between evaluations. This technology aims to provide continuous monitoring through a wearable ultrasound device capable of automatically tracking vascular status and identifying clinically meaningful changes in real time. By enabling earlier recognition of complications and supporting more timely interventions, the technology has the potential to improve patient care, reduce healthcare costs, lessen demands on specialized personnel, and expand access to advanced monitoring capabilities. The technology may be used in critical care, surgical recovery, vascular health, and other settings where continuous physiological monitoring may improve outcomes and efficiency. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a wearable ultrasound-based monitoring system that integrates advanced ultrasound transducer technology with automated signal analysis and intelligent vascular tracking capabilities. The underlying technology incorporates a transducer architecture designed to achieve deep tissue imaging with high resolution that is intended for prolonged monitoring use. This technology includes the integration of optimized acoustic materials, advanced transducer engineering, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted electronic beam steering to enable continuous monitoring of vascular structures without the need for repeated manual ultrasound examinations. This project will evaluate clinical needs, workflow integration requirements, adoption barriers, reimbursement considerations, and commercialization pathways through customer discovery. The proposed device may augment existing prophylactic strategies and also create a new category of smart, wearable diagnostics that may reduce preventable deaths, improving long-term health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and enable widespread access to deep vein thrombosis monitoring. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman