Dynamic In Vivo Size & Shape Measurement Of The Human Upper Airway Using Endoscopic Long-range Optical Coherence Tomogra
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,250.00
Summary
This project will fund the construction of a clinically deployable prototype device to measure changes in upper airway size and shape in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. We have recently developed and validated a technique based on endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). Preliminary in vivo studies have been performed in the human upper airway and the results published. To our knowledge, this is the only such system world-wide capable of making these important measurements. The tec ....This project will fund the construction of a clinically deployable prototype device to measure changes in upper airway size and shape in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. We have recently developed and validated a technique based on endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). Preliminary in vivo studies have been performed in the human upper airway and the results published. To our knowledge, this is the only such system world-wide capable of making these important measurements. The technique has wide commercially applicability as it can be used to measure the internal dimensions of any hollow organ system.Read moreRead less
Development Of Quantitative Tools For Assessment Of Regional Cardiac Function By Echocardiography
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$209,430.00
Summary
The application of ultrasound imaging to the assessment of cardiac function (echocardiography) is an invaluable tool for the assessment of patients with known or suspected cardiac problems. The assessment of contraction in each region of the heart is probably the most important of the reasons for doing this test, as regional function is disturbed in patients with coronary artery disease, which is one of the most common causes of death in Australia. The problem is that this analysis is currently ....The application of ultrasound imaging to the assessment of cardiac function (echocardiography) is an invaluable tool for the assessment of patients with known or suspected cardiac problems. The assessment of contraction in each region of the heart is probably the most important of the reasons for doing this test, as regional function is disturbed in patients with coronary artery disease, which is one of the most common causes of death in Australia. The problem is that this analysis is currently completely subjective, and the reliability of the tool is based upon the availability of an experienced observer. This is particularly a problem in rural Australia, as most specialists with expertise in this modality work in the capital cities, and especially a problem in Queensland, where fewer than half of the population live in the capital. The cardiac imaging group at the University of Queensland have been working in collaboration with GE-Vingmed Ultrasound to develop a quantitative technique for the assessment of regional cardiac function since 1997. This collaboration has been the source of a number of published papers and presentations at international meetings. Our group is considered to be a world leader in the field and our industry partner is clearly the most focused of its competitors in addressing this problem. This submission seeks to address several remaining problems. The data thus far addressed function during stress, when the condition of most patients is similar. Tissue velocities are more variable at rest, and a more sophisticated approach is required to accurately measure the lower velocities in the resting state. This research plan seeks support for the development of a new, high frame-rate acquisition that would facilitate the examination of velocities relative to each other, so that translational motion of the heart does not influence the reading. This new method would then be validated against other techniques for assessing function and disease.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of Bilateral Oedema By Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Swelling of tissue due to fluid accumulation, known as oedema, is one of the earliest signs of diseases such as kidney failure, burn injury or lymphedema. All of these are not uncommon conditions. Lymphedema, for example, is a common sequela of radiotherapy or surgery in the treatment of malignancies such as breast, uterine, and prostatic carcinoma. It is reported to occur in up to 40% of patients depending on the type of surgery and whether or not the patient received radiotherapy. It is estima ....Swelling of tissue due to fluid accumulation, known as oedema, is one of the earliest signs of diseases such as kidney failure, burn injury or lymphedema. All of these are not uncommon conditions. Lymphedema, for example, is a common sequela of radiotherapy or surgery in the treatment of malignancies such as breast, uterine, and prostatic carcinoma. It is reported to occur in up to 40% of patients depending on the type of surgery and whether or not the patient received radiotherapy. It is estimated that at any time 100000 women are suffering from post- mastectomy lymphedema in Australia alone. Treatment of breast cancer alone therefore, given the incidence of the disease, produces a large at-risk population. Add to this other causes of oedema and the magnitude of the problem becomes clearly apparent. The presence of chronic oedema is often a disfiguring and disabling disorder, usually accompanied by pain, recurrent infection, reduced mobility and impaired function. In acute oedema the problem often resolves with recovery from the underlying pathology. In chronic oedema, progression may be arrested by early intervention including complex physical therapy (exercise regimen, compression bandaging, and massage) which is effective in reducing limb volume, in improving the quality of life, function and body image of patients. Although the assessment of oedema is clearly of clinical importance, relatively few objective and accurate techniques for its measurement exist. Research conducted over the past decade by the applicants has pioneered the Use of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for the assessment of lymphedema. This study aims to translate this basic research into clinical practice. Sensitivity and specificity studies will establish normative and threshold values for impedance measurements that can be used as presumptive indicators of oedema. User friendly technology and equipment suitable for clinical use will be developed which should improve treatment therapies.Read moreRead less
We will conduct a clinical trial of the effectiveness of a continuous auditory display of an anesthetized patient's respiratory status. Expired carbon dioxide monitoring has helped reduce respiratory incidents since its widespread introduction in the late 1980s, but a continuous auditory display of respiratory status may reduce incidents further. We will conduct a clinical trial with 10 anaesthetists of continuous auditory respiratory monitoring. Successful outcome may lead to commercial uptake.
Development And Clinical Evaluation Of A Depth Of Anaesthesia Monitor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,785.00
Summary
Waking up during surgery (awareness under anaesthesia) is a frightening reality for some patients. Although uncommon (occurring in about 1 in 1000 operations), it remains one of the main concerns of patients before their surgery. Recent studies (including our own) have demonstrated that processed EEG monitoring using bispectral index (BIS) can markedly reduce the risk of awareness. Other EEG monitors are being developed, but each have weaknesses. As approximately two million Australians have a g ....Waking up during surgery (awareness under anaesthesia) is a frightening reality for some patients. Although uncommon (occurring in about 1 in 1000 operations), it remains one of the main concerns of patients before their surgery. Recent studies (including our own) have demonstrated that processed EEG monitoring using bispectral index (BIS) can markedly reduce the risk of awareness. Other EEG monitors are being developed, but each have weaknesses. As approximately two million Australians have a general anaesthetic each year, about 2000 will suffer an episode of awareness. More than 60 million people around the world have an anaesthetic, and so the problem is substantial. This suggests the potential benefits (health outcomes, commercial gains) are very great. In 2000 less than 5% of US hospitals used BIS monitoring; the current figure in the US is about 69% of the best-rated hospitals (US News and World Report) and 78% of teaching hospitals. A similar rapid growth is occurring in Australia and Europe. We are working with a successful Australian Company (Compumedics Ltd) to develop a better awareness monitor. We plan studies in groups of patients have surgery.Read moreRead less
A Novel Treatment For Ameliorating Retinal Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,685.00
Summary
Retinal vascular disease is a leading cause of blindness and is currently treated by laser photocoagulation surgery. Although successful, this treatment is associated with serious side effects. Recently, Ellex Pty has developed a novel laser called the 2RT laser that is likely to be effective without the accompanying side effects. This study will allow examine the effect of the 2RT laser in animal models of retinal vascular disease so as to complete preclinical development of this laser.
Development Of A Smart Arthroscopy System And Prototype Probe For Joint Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,632.00
Summary
This project relates to the ever growing use of arthroscopy in the management of joint defects. An innovative probe that will combine all the molecular, microstructural and biomechanical characteristics of joint articular cartialge and bone for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, treatment-related decisions, comparison of the effectiveness of treament methods and post treatment evaluation will be developed. This system will produce spin-offs for artrhoscopy of other soft tissues and bodies.
Development And Evaluation Of Novel Anti-inflammatory Products Derived From An Indigenous Medicinal Plant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,598.00
Summary
This collaborative project between researchers at the University of South Australia and Indigenous traditional owners from Northern Kaanju homelands (Cape York Peninsula, Qld) will develop and evaluate products derived from the Northern Kaanju medicinal plant Dodonaea polyandra. Extracts of the plant and novel compounds isolated from it have anti-inflammatory activity. These have the potential to be used in inflammatory diseases such as dermatitis, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Development Of Anti-metastatic And Tumour Targeting Reagents By Design Of Inhibitors To Specific Eph/ephrin Cell-cell
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Metastatic disease, malignant melanoma in particular, is a health issue of considerable global importance with 1,000 fatal melanoma cases- year in Australia alone. While progress has been made on prevention and early diagnosis, no curative treatment exists for stage IV melanoma. Tumour progression and the acquisition of metastatic competence primarily reflect dysregulation of cell adhesion and cell motility rather than proliferation and survival. In this context, Eph receptor tyrosine kinases (E ....Metastatic disease, malignant melanoma in particular, is a health issue of considerable global importance with 1,000 fatal melanoma cases- year in Australia alone. While progress has been made on prevention and early diagnosis, no curative treatment exists for stage IV melanoma. Tumour progression and the acquisition of metastatic competence primarily reflect dysregulation of cell adhesion and cell motility rather than proliferation and survival. In this context, Eph receptor tyrosine kinases (Ephs) and their membrane-bound ephrin ligands are crucial mediators of cell adhesion and motility and are notably overexpressed in metastatic tumours rather than primary (benign) lesions5. Our laboratories were the first to identify EphA3 7, and one of the first to isolate its ligand, ephrin-A5. EphA3 was isolated from acute lymphoblastoid leukemia and malignant melanoma patients, where increasing expression levels correlate with metastatic progression. Soluble, non-clustered forms of Ephs and ephrins are effective inhibitors of Eph activity 3 and provide opportunities to generate specific drugs for cancer therapy. We now propose a research and development program for the development of EphA3-specific drugs and their production for pre-clinical and clinical evaluation for placement onto a national and international market.Read moreRead less