Portable Ultrasound for Interventional Procedures

• Conditions: Ultrasound Therapy; Complications
• Interventions: Procedure: Ultrasound guided procedure; Device: Portable ultrasound

• Registration Number: NCT04685330
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

We are evaluating whether a portable ultrasound can be safely and effectively used in portable interventional procedures, whether the image quality can be improved to meet standard existing ultrasounds. In the COVID-19 pandemic, transferring patients with COVID-19 to the procedure room results in contamination and shut down of those rooms while also putting folks in transit at some degree of transmission risk. The ability to do procedures at bedside can alleviate those risks greatly.

Detailed Description

Portable ultrasound-guided procedures, including paracentesis, thoracentesis, drain placement, or simple biopsies can be required for patients who are difficult to move, in particular COVID-19 patients, patients in the ICU, or on the floor. Portable ultrasounds have demonstrated a convenient ability to provide a point of care ultrasound diagnostic testing with expanding use in standard clinical care. A number of portable ultrasound systems are in routine clinical use at MGH and have been used for diagnostic procedures (e.g. Butterfly, Hologic, others). Most of the systems are still tethered (transducer is connected via cables to a computer or power) which may represent challenges for contamination, especially in interventional procedures. The Healcerion system is the first FDA approved wireless and battery-operated portable ultrasound system of its kind and is in routine use for diagnostic ultrasounds throughout the world.

The goal of the current study is to compare the utility and practical operations of the advanced Healcerion SONON ultrasound system to a standard wheeled and bulky ultrasound systems in current use (Hitachi, GE). While the Healcerion device has been used at other institutions, it has not been used for interventional procedures at MGH. A comparative efficacy study will allow the investigators to examine the safety and efficacy of the device to complete procedures in a portable setting as well as explore whether images can be improved to reach the more robust imaging capability of wired devices.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2020-12
• Study First Submitted: 2020-12-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-12-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-12-24
• Study First Posted: 2020-12-28
• Last Update Posted: 2020-12-28
• Study Start: 2021-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2023-12-31
• Study Completion: 2023-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• The subject has read, signed, and dated the Informed Consent Form (ICF), having been advised of the risks and benefits of the trial in a language understood by the subject.
• Age ≥ 18 years at the date of informed consent form signature and having the ability to comply with the protocol.
• Undergoing a clinically indicated ultrasound-guided procedure, such as paracentesis, thoracentesis, or biopsy.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patient or health care proxy does not consent
• Patient not undergoing an ultrasound-guided procedure.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Adult patients undergoing an ultrasound-guided procedure	Portable ultrasound	Adult patients undergoing an ultrasound-guided procedure, such as paracentesis, thoracentesis, or biopsy
Adult patients undergoing an ultrasound-guided procedure	Ultrasound guided procedure	Adult patients undergoing an ultrasound-guided procedure, such as paracentesis, thoracentesis, or biopsy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Efficacy > 80%	Approximately 3 years	Efficacy as defined by the operator in successfully completing the procedure using the portable ultrasound. Reported % of cases the portable ultrasound successfully completed the procedure, stratified by procedure type.