New ultrasound device shows potential in detecting heart disease risks

Scientists in the US have been able to develop a new ultrasound device that could offer numerous benefits in the detection of heart disease risk.

The dual-frequency intravascular ultrasound transducer transmits and receives acoustic signals and has been shown in early trials to be effective in identifying arterial plaque that is at high risk of breaking off and causing a heart attack or stroke.

Dr Paul Dayton, co-author of a paper on the new device and professor in the joint biomedical engineering department at NC State and Chapel Hill, said: "Existing state-of-the-art technologies are capable of determining if plaque is present in the arteries, but can't tell whether it's vulnerable, and that makes it difficult to assess a patient's risk."

Existing intravascular ultrasound technology options are also poor at detecting contrast agents, which are essential in the detection of vulnerable plaques.

The prototype device has performed well in laboratory testing and the technology continues to be optimised. Preclinical studies will hopefully be launched in the near future.

According to British Heart Foundation estimates, around 50,000 men and 32,000 women have a heart attack every year in England, while strokes affect more than 150,000 people annually.