IIT Madras develops Indigenous portable ultrasound scanner for sports injuries

New Delhi: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed a portable Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) scanner designed specifically for sports injury diagnosis and management. 

This cutting-edge device, powered by Artificial Intelligence, could revolutionize how sports injuries are assessed on the field, allowing for immediate evaluation of the injury’s extent and aiding medical professionals in deciding whether athletes can continue participating in their activities.

The new POCUS scanner, created by the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) at IIT Madras, stands out for its safety and resolution, offering a significant improvement over traditional imaging methods, which often involve radiation. The researchers have already secured several patents for the technologies used in the device and are now focused on advancing towards product commercialization.

Prof. Arun K. Thittai, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, IIT Madras, who led the development team, emphasized, “We observed a current technological gap and a need for a Point-of-Care device for injury Management and Rehabilitation of elite athletes within routine training premises. A quick assessment for musculoskeletal on the field will help sports players get immediate attention and focus on recovery.”

Prof. Thittai, also a faculty member at CESSA, added, “This solution aims to bring the latest development in ultrasound technology to sports medicine beyond the hospital setting. The inputs from the POCUS assessment will be taken into the bigger AI platform for a holistic athlete management system. We are currently exploring all options to take up POCUS for MSK imaging for commercial translation.”

CESSA, established by IIT Madras, aims to be a global leader in sports technology innovation. The center focuses on developing products and solutions to enhance athletic performance and general fitness, while also engaging with sports federations and media platforms to boost fan interaction.

Ramesh Kumar, CEO of CESSA and a former Global Head of ESPNcricinfo, highlighted the significance of the new device: “This device is one more innovative product with a complete effort focussed on indigenisation, which we believe will have a huge impact in the sporting field.”

A working prototype of the scanner, designed for Musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging, has been completed at the Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging Lab (BUSi). The team aims to finalize the product prototype by the end of 2024, followed by field testing and pilot data collection in collaboration with sports authorities.