I-Corps: Cardiovascular Evaluation Algorithm

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一个心血管生理学评估系统，以便培训计划可以有针对性地达到最大限度的性能。有中枢和局部的生理机制来调节工作肌肉组织中的血液流动。目前，还没有能够评估和优化中央和地方控制之间平衡的机制。为了评估这些机制，必须测量心脏和血管功能。建议的技术允许在算法和测试程序中结合这两组测量来评估心血管功能。有了这些信息，培训或治疗计划可能会得到优化，以解决实现最大绩效的潜在限制。这个I-Corps项目是基于一种算法的开发，该算法通过计算运动过程中工作组织流动的决定因素来评估心血管功能。这一算法的关键是测量中枢(神经)和局部(代谢)的血流控制。这是通过测量脉搏动脉对血流限制的反应，使用血压袖带，以及通过锻炼对刺激的反应来实现的。所提出的方法评估局部扩张、自主神经收缩和整体心功能。这些测量可以用来确定心脏和血管的运行情况。运动会增加心脏的输出量，但工作肌肉中的血管需要放松，才能让更多的血液流动。如果运动员通过训练来增加心脏输出量，但却没有提高放松血管的能力，那么他们就不会优化工作组织流，从而也就不会有最佳表现。使用提出的算法，可能会告诉运动员他们在哪里受到限制，以及如何训练来改善这个限制。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a system for assessment of cardiovascular physiology so that training programs may be targeted at a level to maximize performance. There are both central and local physiological mechanisms that operate to regulate blood flow in working muscle tissue. Currently, there is no mechanism whereby the balance between central and local control can be assessed and optimized. To assess these mechanisms, both cardiac and vascular function must be measured. The proposed technology allows the combination of both sets of measures in an algorithm and testing procedure to assess cardiovascular functionality. With this information, training or treatment plans may be optimized to address the underlying limitations in achieving maximum performance. This I-Corps project is based on the development of an algorithm to assess cardiovascular function by calculating the determinants of working tissue flow during exercise. Critical to this algorithm is the measurement of both central (neurological) and local (metabolic) control of blood flow. This is achieved by measuring pulse arterial responses to restrictions in blood flow, using a blood pressure cuff, and to stimulation through exercise. The proposed method assesses local dilation, autonomic constriction, and total cardiac function. These measurements may be used to determine how well both the heart and the blood vessels are performing. Exercise increases the output of the heart but the blood vessels in the working muscles need to relax to allow more blood to flow. If an athlete trains to increase heart output but does not increase the ability to relax blood vessels, then they will not optimize working tissue flow and hence performance. Using the proposed algorithm, it may be possible to tell the athlete where they are limited and how to train to improve that limitation.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.