ULTRASOUND AND NERVE STIMULATOR GUIDE

区域麻醉（RA）是一种有效的技术，可以减轻围手术期疼痛和慢性疼痛。 RA可以为患者提供显著的益处，因为它仅需要轻度镇静来伴随区域阻滞，从而导致术后并发症的发生率低。尽管它的优点，只有5-20%的患者符合RA接受这种技术。RA患者的选择主要取决于从业者对应用该方法的信心。拟议的第一阶段研究旨在开发一种设备，通过在RA期间提供实时反馈来提高医生的信心。阻滞的成功与否取决于周围神经阻滞时定位深神经或神经丛阻滞时定位神经血管束。同时避开周围的重要结构由于靶神经位于主血管附近，因此将使用多普勒超声（用于远程方向）和神经电刺激的组合提供引导，以确认针的放置。作为第一阶段研究的一部分，将确定超声换能器、电极图案、材料和构造方法的初步设计。第一阶段的成功完成将导致在项目的第二阶段部分进行原型开发和测试。拟议的商业应用：RA可能使患者和付款人受益，因为它的使用促进了快速恢复，缩短了住院时间和良好的疼痛控制。RA的总成本约为全身麻醉相关成本的1/3。用于引导RA的一次性器械的开发将产生商业上可行的产品，这将增加RA的使用并降低与手术麻醉和术后护理相关的成本。

Regional anesthesia (RA) is a powerful technique to reduce both perioperative and chronic pain. RA can provide significant benefits to patients since it requires only light sedation to accompany the regional blockade and thereby results in a low incidence of postoperative complications. In spite of its advantages, only 5-20% of patients eligible for RA receives this technique. Patient selection for RA depends primarily on a practitioner's confidence in applying the method. The proposed Phase 1 research is meant to develop a device, which will improve physician confidence by providing real-time feedback during RA. The success of the block depends on locating the deeply placed nerves for peripheral nerve blockade or the neurovascular bundle for plexus blockade. while avoiding surrounding vital structures. Since target nerves lie in close proximity to major blood vessels, guidance will be provided using a combination of Doppler ultrasound (for long-range direction) and electrical nerve stimulation for confirmation of needle placement. As part of this Phase I study, preliminary designs for ultrasound transducers, electrode patterns, materials, and construction methods will be identified. Successful completion of Phase I will lead to prototype development and testing during the Phase II portion of the project. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: RA potentially benefits both patients and payers since its use promotes rapid recovery, shortened hospital stays and excellent pain control. The overall cost of RA is about 1/3 of costs associated with general anesthesia. The development of a disposable device for guiding RA will result in a commercially viable product, which will increase the use of RA and decrease the costs associated with surgical anesthesia and post-operative care.