IIT Madras Develops AI-Powered Portable Ultrasound Scanner for Sports Injuries

The Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging Lab development team at IIT Madras has already produced a working prototype, with plans to complete product development by 2024.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed a portable Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) scanner designed for diagnosing and managing sports injuries.

The device, created by the Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) at IIT Madras, is aimed at providing immediate on-field injury assessments, allowing medical professionals to quickly determine the severity of an injury and decide whether an athlete can continue playing.

Professor Arun K Thittai, from the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras, led the development of this innovative device.

He emphasized the gap in current technology for the management and rehabilitation of elite athletes.

“A quick assessment for musculoskeletal injuries on the field will help sports players get immediate attention and focus on recovery,” said Professor Thittai.

The technology is intended to bring advanced ultrasound innovations to sports medicine, extending beyond hospital settings.

AI-Powered Musculoskeletal Imaging

This AI-powered POCUS scanner is designed for musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging and offers advantages, including no radiation exposure and sufficient resolution for effective diagnosis.

The development team at the Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging Lab (BUSi) at IIT Madras has already produced a working prototype, with plans to complete product development by 2024.

Further testing and data collection are ongoing, in collaboration with sports authorities and medical professionals.

In addition to its portability, the POCUS scanner will be integrated into a larger AI platform for managing athletes' health and performance.

Professor Thittai, who is also a faculty member at CESSA, stated, “We are currently exploring all options to take up POCUS for MSK imaging for commercial translation.”

The goal is to make this cutting-edge technology widely available for sports medicine professionals, enhancing injury management across different sports disciplines.

The Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) was established to foster innovation in sports technology, aiming to enhance athlete performance while also serving fitness and health consumers.

CESSA collaborates with sporting federations to boost fan engagement and improve athlete care.

Ramesh Kumar, CEO of CESSA and a former Global Head of ESPNcricinfo, spoke about the significance of the POCUS scanner, calling it "an innovative product with a complete focus on indigenization."

Kumar believes the device will have a substantial impact on the sports field, benefiting athletes and medical professionals alike.

Bringing Medical Imaging to the Field

Sports medicine typically focuses on diagnosing and treating injuries that occur during athletic activities. While advanced medical imaging technologies are available in hospitals, athletes often lack access to such devices during routine training or competition.

The POCUS scanner aims to bridge this gap, bringing evidence-based injury management directly to the field, and allowing for immediate diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries.

The development of this device has been funded through government research grants, with CESSA established as part of the Government of India’s ‘Institute of Eminence’ (IoE) initiative.