TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Ultrasonic System To Assess Compartment Syndrome (LAR-TOPS-162)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY: NASA Langley Research Center has developed an ultrasonic system to assess Compartment Syndrome. Compartment Syndrome occurs when bleeding or swelling interfere with proper blood circulation in enclosed groups of muscles and nerves. Most commonly this occurs after a substantial injury, such as a broken arm or leg. Without proper treatment, myoneural necrosis occurs, leading to permanent injury and possible limb amputation.

Even experienced physicians can have trouble making a reliable diagnosis of Compartment Syndrome and current testing for Compartment Syndrome requires invasive procedures. This invention provides a non-invasive and quick system to test for Compartment Syndrome, and to monitor for its possible onset. The technology uses ultrasonic waves to categorize pressure build-up in a body compartment.

The method includes assessing the body compartment configuration and identifying the effect of pulsatile components on at least one compartment dimension.

An apparatus is used for measuring excess pressure in the body compartment having components for imparting ultrasonic waves such as a transducer, placing the transducer to impart the ultrasonic waves, capturing the reflected imparted ultrasonic waves, and converting them to electrical signals, a pulsed phase-locked loop device for assessing a body compartment configuration and producing an output signal, and means for mathematically manipulating the output signal to thereby categorize pressure build-up in the body compartment to the point of interference with blood flow in the compartment from the mathematical manipulations.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-162 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information.

For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.