Project Description: 

In the United States, there are approximately 5 million patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Of these 5 million patients, roughly 1 million require a right heart catheterization each year, at a cost of $5,000 each. The right heart catheterization, while expensive, is essential in assessing a patient’s right atrial pressure and its waveform to help treat fluid build up. The alternative to this procedure is an assessment of Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) by visual inspection which leads to inconsistencies resulting in ineffective treatment. Our device – the JVPro – aims to provide cardiologists with a more accurate JVP waveform. In order to meet this requirement, this device incorporates two critical sensors: electrocardiography and photoplethysmography. Typically, patients with CHF are already wearing these sensors in the hospital and this device will incorporate them by strapping onto the patient’s chest without inhibiting movement.The JVPro will collect the waveforms from each of the sensors separately and correlate the time difference between peaks in order to compute Pulse Arrival Time (PAT). Using an algorithm, PAT will then be converted to the JVP waveform, which will enable doctors to determine the mean JVP and administer the appropriate treatment. Further steps for this device include an output of the mean JVP, which will further expedite IV drug prescription. Before going to market, this device must undergo clinical testing and be compared to the gold standard Right Heart Catheter.