Heart failure (HF) currently affects 14 million people in Europe, and this number is expected to increase to 30 million by 2020. Early diagnosis of HF is essential in order to successfully address the underlying causes. However, initial diagnosis is difficult meaning that HF is only correctly diagnosed in about half of affected patients. Diastolic HF, that accounts for more than 50% of all HF patients, is due to abnormal ventricular stiffness which remains very difficult to diagnose. Non-invasive evaluation of myocardial stiffness remains indeed today a challenge and there is currently no technique that can assess myocardial stiffness in clinical practice.
In ElastoCardioScope, an innovative ultrasound device has been developed for non-invasive quantification of myocardial stiffness. A prototype was manufactured and its accuracy to quantify myocardial stiffness was demonstrated. The clinical feasibility was shown on patients with heart failure whereas the clinical and economical potential of this technology was demonstrated by conducting a market study. These results pave the way for the development of a novel diagnostic tool for heart failure. This simple and low cost innovative technology could provide a clear solution to an unmet medical need and thus has great potential for take-up and use by clinicians at hospital but also in other points of cares.
