Ultrasound developer Fujifilm Sonosite and the Chest Foundation have announced the winners of research grants for the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to diagnose COVID-19 in intensive care units (ICUs).
The grants were issued to two recipients, and they include Sonosite PX scanners and $30,000 in support. The Chest Foundation is the charitable foundation of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Fujifilm Sonosite and the Chest Foundation note that clinical experience and early research studies have found that POCUS can be useful for diagnosing COVID-19 in the ICU, but additional research is needed.
The first grant was awarded to Dr. Marjan Islam of Montefiore Medical Center in New York City to study how transcutaneous ultrasonography findings correlate with dyspnea as reported by patients with COVID-19, as well as diagnostics such as pulmonary function tests and chest radiography.
The second grant goes to Dr. Siddharth Dugar of the Cleveland Clinic's Respiratory Institute in Cleveland to study if spontaneous echo contrast exams in critically ill COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced velocity in the venous system, increased risk of venous thrombosis, and altered fibrinogen and blood viscosity
The research studies began in mid-January and are expected to conclude one year later.
