CONTRAST ECHO ENHANCEMENT BY IMAGE VARIABILITY ANALYSIS

超声是心脏病学的主要成像手段，其在心肌灌注评估中的应用不断涌现。虽然其潜在市场估计有数十亿美元，但对比回声目前的表现仍然有限。我们已经开发了基于变异性分析的图像处理新方法并获得了专利。由于来自心肌的回声与来自造影剂气泡的回声的统计特性不同，它增强了对比回声研究。罗宾的长期商业目标是成为心脏病和普通超声领域增强对比回声成像的专业设备和软件包的领先供应商。在第一阶段，我们的目标是开发一种实时附加设备，用于增强心脏病回声对比成像。基于商用硬件和定制软件，并展示其临床疗效。在第二阶段，我们的目标是将实时处理器开发成商业设备，将我们目前的研究软件开发成用于对比回波研究的离线分析包，并探索新的临床应用。在第三阶段，将与一家领先的回声多普勒系统制造商共同开发新的应用程序，并将方法学作为回声多普勒系统的标准特征进行整合。建议的商业应用：回声多普勒是心脏病学中领先的非侵入性成像方法，全球销售额接近10亿美元。新兴的新市场与之形成反差，潜在销售额高达数亿美元。假设Robin的图像处理设备将成为回波多普勒系统的标准组件，定价约为10,000美元，该附加设备的潜在市场规模为5亿美元，用于升级已安装的系统(即，五年内潜在的年销售额为100美元)，以及每年1亿美元的新回波多普勒系统销售。

Ultrasound is the leading imaging modality in cardiology, with emerging applications for myocardial perfusion assessment. While its potential market is estimated at billions of dollars, the current performance of contrast echo remains limited. We have developed and patented new methodology for image processing based on variability analysis. It enhances contrast echo studies due to the different statistical properties of echoes emerging from the myocardium versus those from the contrast agent bubbles. Robin's long term commercial objective- is to become the leading provider of specialized devices and software packages for enhancement of contrast echo imaging in cardiology and general ultrasound. In Phase I we aim to develop a real-time add-on device for the enhancement of cardiology echo-contrast imaging. based on commercial hardware and custom software, and to demonstrate its clinical efficacy. During Phase II we aim to develop the real-time processor into a commercial device, to develop our current research software into package for off-line analysis of contrast echo studies, and to explore new clinical applications. During Phase III, development of the new applications and integration of the methodology as a standard feature of echo-Doppler systems will be co-ventured with a leading manufacturer of echo-Doppler systems. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Echo-Doppler is the leading non-invasive imaging methodology in cardiology, with global sales approaching $1 billion. Emerging new market is the contrast echo, with potential sales of hundreds million dollars. Assuming that Robin's image processing device will become a standard component of echo-Doppler systems, and will be priced at about $10,000, the potential market size for the add-on device is $500 millions for the upgrade of installed systems (i.e. potential annual sales of $100 for a period of five years) and $100 millions annually for new echo-Doppler systems sales.