Uscom Partners with UTAS in IDEAL eHealth Initiative
Uscom Limited today announced the execution of a partnership with the University of Tasmania as part of the NHMRC funded IDEAL study. The IDEAL study is supported by a $1m AUD NHMRC grant to develop improved methods for monitoring cardiovascular health delivery in Australia, and includes the Uscom BP+ as the front end blood pressure sensor in this eHealth study.
The International Society of Hypertension estimates the global cost of uncontrolled BP is in excess of $500B, and the IDEAL study is targeting the benefits of early detection and improved management of cardiovascular disease using BP+, an eHealth platform, and novel clinical algorithms. Partners in the collaboration include the University of Tasmania, the Menzies Institute, the National Heart Foundation, the Department of Health Tasmania, Primary Health Tasmania and Healthcare Software.
The study involves patient examination with the BP+ and a cardiovascular risk assessment including completion of a risk profiling questionnaire, and blood sample collection and cholesterol assessment at pathology service centres. The data is recorded on novel clinical software and is securely transferred to the UTAS database for analysis. The Uscom BP+ being used in the IDEAL partnership is currently in use with researchers and influencers at Imperial College, University College and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, The University of Mons in Belgium, The University of Pennsylvania and Colombia University (New York) in USA, Auckland University, and other major US technology companies.
Uscom has continuing relationships with key decision-makers and policy influencers for BP guidelines globally including Australia, New Zealand, UK, and the USA, including in the special population group of maternal hypertension. The IDEAL partnership outcomes will be shared among collaborators across disciplines and institutions to help drive the adoption of improved global clinical cardiovascular risk stratification and management.
In addition to being included as the lead BP technology in this new eHealth clinical treatment algorithm, Uscom will work with partners to develop and integrate new waveform analysis approaches into current and future products and practice.
The Uscom BP+ has CE and TGA approval, and is currently progressing through Chinese NMPA and US FDA regulatory processes, and is due for international release in 2020.
Executive Chairman of Uscom, Professor Rob Phillips said “The BP+ is perfectly suited to the IDEAL study. While eHealth is leading the new era of clinical care, its application depends on the quality of the patient sensors and BP+ provides new and improved data on the blood pressure, all information that increases the strength of the study. Uscom has invested the last 15 years of product development in optimizing core sensors and now has sector-leading digital technologies that are “ideal” for monitoring cardiac, vascular and pulmonary care. We currently work with some of the world’s largest technology companies in the development of home care eHealth models for managing heart failure, hypertension, and asthma and COPD. The potential mortality, morbidity and cost savings in getting eHealth right are almost inestimable, and BP+ is an emerging device in that new health practice.”
Uscom manufactures and markets the USCOM 1A, the Uscom BP+, and the Uscom SpiroSonic digital ultrasonic spirometry technologies. These premium digital devices are changing the way we diagnose and treat cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and are platform technologies for eHealth applications. The USCOM 1A provides vital guidance for optimizing of sepsis and fluid, inotropes and vasoactive therapies in hypertension and heart failure monitoring. The BP+ SpiroSonic devices improve the diagnosis and management of hypertension, heart failure, asthma, COPD and sleep disorders in the clinical and home care environments.