Since 1 January 2021, Netrix S.A., acting as a Partner, has been implementing a project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under Measure 4.1.4 of the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014–2020, entitled “Non-Invasive System for Monitoring and Diagnosing Functional Lower Urinary Tract Disorders Using Electrical and Ultrasound Tomography”.
Project Description and Objective
Netrix S.A., in cooperation with Lodz University of Technology and the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, has launched a research project aimed at developing and building a comprehensive, innovative technical solution for diagnosing congenital defects and functional disorders of the urinary tract.
The solution will comprise a measurement device and a set of sensors attached to specially designed underwear worn around the perineal and abdominal areas. The patient examination methodology will incorporate:
The complexity of the problem requires the development of both the hardware components of a dual-modality tomograph and sophisticated software for analysing the results generated by the device. The diagnostic device will be developed by Lodz University of Technology and Netrix S.A. The University has extensive experience in developing software for tomographic techniques, while Netrix S.A. has experience in building both types of tomographs. The Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute will define the requirements for the innovative solution through laboratory studies and verify its effectiveness in clinical trials.
Functional urinary tract disorders are a common problem in the paediatric population. It is estimated that they may affect more than 20% of children up to the age of five and approximately 2–4% of adolescents. The lack of non-invasive diagnostic methods for functional and comprehensive assessment of the urinary tract reduces the likelihood of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment and may also increase the number of children receiving treatment despite the absence of a clearly defined clinical problem.
Currently available devices for functional urinary tract diagnostics are highly invasive. As a result, up to 60% of results may be inconclusive during the first urodynamic examination and 40% during repeat testing, while the rate may reach 30% in cystographic examinations. Other imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI, provide only static images of urinary tract anatomy without enabling the assessment of functional disorders.
The combination of electrical impedance tomography and ultrasound tomography appears to be an ideal solution for diagnosing urinary tract dysfunction and assessing treatment progress. Its advantages include low invasiveness, the possibility of long-term monitoring of urinary tract function, and the relatively low cost of both the equipment and the examination itself.
The project presents a number of research problems and technological challenges:
The use of EIT as a non-invasive method for assessing urinary tract function and the effects of urinary tract rehabilitation represents a unique solution on a global scale. No comparable urological diagnostic solutions are currently available.
The system under development will enable continuous, long-term assessment of the current condition of the urinary tract. EIT is a technique sensitive to interference and therefore requires the design of dedicated measurement electrodes ensuring proper electrical contact with the patient’s body.
As a non-invasive diagnostic method, UT enables imaging of internal body structures, including muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs. UT-based urinary tract diagnostic systems are currently not available on global markets.
Developing such a system requires addressing a number of challenges, including a limited examination field, dependence on body structure, and difficulties in imaging bone structures and gas-filled areas.
Combining two diagnostic techniques in a single device requires not only specialised hardware solutions but also the development of new measurement sequences. The measurements must not interfere with one another.
The device must be easy to use and comply with regulations applicable to devices used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Software integration will involve the fusion of images obtained using EIT and UT. This will require the development of new, dedicated algorithms for processing, analysing, and visualising tomographic images.
For the calibration of measurement systems under laboratory and clinical conditions, it will be necessary to develop reference 3D models of the examined parts of the human body.
This will require the preparation of a mathematical model, selection of appropriate materials, and 3D printing, making it a complex interdisciplinary challenge.
Another demanding problem will be the development of models that accurately reproduce the dynamics of urine flow. The proposed solution involves the use of measurement devices capable of assessing current flow parameters and controlling them in real time.
The diagnostic support system will be based on advanced, state-of-the-art computational intelligence algorithms. Using the collected examination results, the system will support the diagnosis of urological disorders and the planning of individualised therapy and rehabilitation tailored to each patient.
The developed system is intended to serve as a tool supporting physicians in their work. It will operate using measurement data obtained from the device developed as part of the project, as well as data from other diagnostic methods.
Particular challenges in developing such a system include the development and implementation of deep neural network learning algorithms and extending the conventional deep learning approach with elements of fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic to create a deep neuro-fuzzy network.
This approach may make it possible to extend the system with the ability to interpret the results of learning processes and/or incorporate additional, not necessarily precise, knowledge into the learning process.
The project partners believe that such a system could contribute to the development of a reference method for the treatment of urinary incontinence and could influence future guidelines for diagnosing functional urinary tract disorders.
Project value: PLN 11,373,211.20
European Funds contribution: PLN 9,885,484.95
