MAUI Imaging has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to evaluate the feasibility of its computed echo tomography (CET) ultrasound technology for the detection, diagnosis, and triage of tuberculosis (TB).
According to the Tucson-based firm, a study will be undertaken using MAUI Imaging's K3900 Imaging System to determine whether CET ultrasound can be used for effective early TB detection in resource-limited settings.
TB is a major global public health concern, with an estimated 10 million new cases worldwide each year, three million of which go undiagnosed, MAUI noted. The emergence of drug-resistant TB strains has amplified the need for more effective and accessible approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, especially in areas with limited resources.
Current approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating TB are inadequate, and drug-resistant strains have emerged, creating a growing urgency to control the spread of the disease.
MAUI’s CET uses ultrasound to flood tissues with sound waves for rapid imaging of the brain and other internal organs and structures in real time and may be used by clinical personnel without additional training, the company said.
It added that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared K3900 Imaging System produces a large-scale dataset designed to assist in rapid and effective diagnosis and interventions.
According to the Gates Foundation website, the organization has currently committed $143,486 to MAUI Imaging for the project.
